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Title

Date

20100030625

AFFINITY SHOPPING PORTAL - A method of administering a commercial transaction carried out over a communications network (

02-04-2010

20090307052

WORKFORCE PLANNING SYSTEM, METHOD AND TOOL - A method, system and tool are disclosed for planning workforce requirements for an organization, where the organization is organized into functional areas. An input is received of a workforce supply for the organization. An input is also received of a workforce demand. The workforce demand includes an organizational direction of the organization, including strategic planning and current performance of the organization, and includes productivity levers, which include productivity metrics for each of the functional areas of the organization. A workforce gap is forecasted by comparing the workforce demand to the workforce supply.

12-10-2009

20090327050

System and Method for Ranking the Quality of Internet Traffic Directed From One Web Site to Another - A system and method of determining a quality ranking of user traffic directed from at least one traffic producer Web site to a traffic consumer Web site. A reference for the traffic consumer is established on a Web site of the traffic producer. The reference includes a link from the traffic producer to a traffic quality intermediary and a unique identifier to identify the traffic consumer. The traffic quality intermediary receives user traffic data associated with the user traffic directed from the traffic producer and determines a quality ranking of the user traffic based upon the user traffic data.

12-31-2009

20100161385

Method and System for Content Based Demographics Prediction for Websites - Systems and methods for predicting characteristics of a web user, determining a combination of websites to obtain a target demographic mix, determining a set of keywords to buy to obtain a target demographic mix, selecting websites from market research and designing websites to appeal to an audience with desired demographic characteristics. Systems and methods may include determining features of web-pages of ad-carrying, target websites, applying prediction models to the determined features of the ad-carrying, target websites to predict values of demographic attributes of the ad-carrying, target websites, receiving one or more inputs including a target demographic mix, receiving a number that indicates an amount of visitors of the ad-carrying, target websites, and determining a combination of websites that provide target demographic mix based on the predicted values of the demographic attributes and number of visitors of the ad-carrying, target websites.

06-24-2010

20090307057

ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY OPERATORS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR USING A SOCIAL NETWORK FOR PREDICTIVE MARKETING ANALYSIS - Provided are an associative memory operator system and methods for predictive marketing analysis using a computer implemented social network. A system includes multiple associative memory cells corresponding to multiple computer implemented social network users. A respective one of the associative memory cells corresponds to a user in the computer implemented social network and includes a sink memory of associations corresponding to which ones of the computer implemented social network users have been influenced by the user and a source memory of associations corresponding to which other ones of the computer implemented social network users have influenced the user.

12-10-2009

20100324970

System and Method For Intelligent Job Hunt - A system, computer readable storage medium, and computer-implemented method performs an intelligent job hunt to determine a sorted set of job openings relevant to a user's career goals. An intelligent job hunt engine uses user profile information to query a job openings index for job's relevant to the user. Results of the query are filtered and sorted according to their relevance to different career goals. A job readiness evaluator determines readiness scores indicative of the user's preparedness for reaching a career goal. Specific action items are generated based on the user's interaction with the sorted job openings and the user's job readiness scores.

12-23-2010

20100324971

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING SURVEY INFORMATION FROM TARGETED CONSUMERS - In one embodiment, a method and system can be configured to collect survey information from targeted customers. The method and system can provide customer survey information to merchants such as retailers and service providers. The system and method can be configured to identify consumers to participate in a survey program.

12-23-2010

20090299823

INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - An information processing system includes a terminal device and a server device. When recommending subsidiary contents, recommended contents are extracted at the server, and recommended content information is returned to the terminal device. At the terminal device, a recommendation order is set regarding the recommended contents which the recommended content information indicates, upon which the recommended contents are presented, such that recommended content extracting processing and recommendation order setting processing is dispersed among the server device and terminal device.

12-03-2009

20090299826

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CROSS-VERTICAL PROFILING AND SEARCHING - Methods and systems of providing a user profile for multiple verticals are disclosed herein. The methods and systems disclosed herein aggregate user profile information from multiple verticals and redistributes aggregated data to the multiple verticals to create more robust personalized profiles. A first input that populates a first vertical attribute in a first vertical profile is received from a user computing device. The first vertical attribute can hold a first value for a user characteristic. A second user input that populates a second vertical attribute in the second vertical profile is received from the user computing device. The second vertical attribute can hold a second value for the user characteristic. The first value of the first vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the first vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than a reliability weight of the second vertical attribute. The second value of the second vertical attribute is assigned to an attribute in the generic profile if the second vertical attribute is determined to have a greater reliability weight than the reliability weight of the first vertical attribute.

12-03-2009

20090299825

SALES LEAD MANAGER AND FILTER WITH RANDOMIZER - A computer implemented method for automatically managing and delivering sales leads to a seller of a product. the steps of said method comprising 1) receiving a sales lead comprising information about a potential customer; 2) applying one or more query expressions to the information, the query expressions comprising a Boolean condition and one or more parameters; 3) applying one or more random query expressions to the information, the random query expressions comprising a Boolean condition and one or more parameters defined by the third-party manager; 4) setting a lead value indicator associated with the sales lead in response to the sales lead; and 5) regulating delivery of the sales lead to one or more seller clients in response to the lead value indicator satisfying a minimum priority level.

12-03-2009

20090299822

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED SHOPPING TRANSACTIONS - A system and a method for constructing a shopping list for purchasing a collection or basket of goods according to a plurality of weighted parameters, preferably with comparison to both “bricks and mortar” stores and also virtual stores (collectively termed suppliers). Preferably the weighted parameters include the ability to prefer friendlier products, such as products which are organic, environmentally friendly, ethical or a combination thereof. Optionally, the user could determine that certain goods could only be purchased from one or more outlets and/or from a particular type of outlet. Optionally and preferably, the optimization includes determining whether to purchase a larger amount of a product in order to enjoy price savings for that product. According to other preferred embodiments, the user may optionally choose to divide a basket of products between a plurality of suppliers, rather than optimizing the basket at a single supplier.

12-03-2009

20090299821

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE PET HEALTH AND NUTRITION FEEDING PLAN - In order to provide a comprehensive pet health and nutrition feeding plan for a pet, the pet's condition is assessed using a predetermined assessment scheme. A diet suited for the pet's condition is determined using an analysis procedure or algorithm established for the assessment scheme. The assessment scheme takes into account feeding preferences of the pet's owner. A feeding plan is selected according to the determined diet, the feeding preferences, and budget considerations, if any, of the owner. Optionally, the owner may conveniently obtain the combination of foods/treats/supplements/pharmaceuticals in the selected feeding plan at a predetermined location, which is informed of the pet's feeding plan in advance of the arrival of the pet's owner.

12-03-2009

20090299820

CONTINGENT FEE ADVERTISEMENT PUBLISHING SERVICE PROVIDER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A purchase-transaction-settled online consumer referral and reward system and method using real-time specific merchant sales information is provided for the advertising publishing industry. The system provides a pay per transaction platform that allows advertising publishers to leverage online advertising to sell offline advertising.

12-03-2009

20090299818

METHODS FOR MERCHANDISING DIGITAL CONTENT - A method for merchandising digital content of an event includes measuring consumer attention level in the event and comparing the measured consumer attention level to a predetermined threshold. The method also includes predicting a time after the event at which the consumer attention level in the event will fall below a critical level and estimating the time needed for processing digital content of the event. Merchandising of digital content is initiated if the measured consumer attention level exceeds the predetermined threshold and the predicted time at which the consumer attention level will fall below a critical level is greater than the estimated content processing time.

12-03-2009

20090299817

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING FRAMEWORK FOR A WIRELESS DEVICE - Targeted advertising can be provided by monitoring application specific details that go beyond observing merely the types of applications and/or functionality utilized on a device. The specific details can be monitored on at least a periodic basis and the advertisements changed based on the monitoring such that the advertisements transition from generic advertisements to advertisements that are more narrowly tailored for the user. The targeted advertisements can be retained locally on the user device, accessed over a network, or combinations thereof. Presenting the targeted advertisements can include displaying the advertisements in at least a portion of a display screen, wherein the portion is selectable and changeable.

12-03-2009

20090299816

Search Tool Advertising - A content item is presented to at least one user via a first medium, where the content item identifies a target concept. The first medium can be, for instance, radio, television, print advertisements, or the Internet. The number of requests at a search tool for the target concept are measured subsequent to the presentation of the content item in the first medium. The difference (e.g, increase or decrease) in use of a second medium, e.g., the Internet, subsequent to the presentation of the content item in the first medium can be measured, which can be used to modify a value associated with a subsequent presentation of the content item using the first medium.

12-03-2009

20090299815

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALUATION SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for valuation services information management are provided. A method according to the invention may include the following steps. A first step may include receiving a request for a valuation service that includes a group of multiple properties. The request may then be validated. The validation may be based on prior requests. The method may also include determining whether the request allows providing valuations of the properties instead of more rigorous appraisals. If valuations are allowed the method may allow the direct award of the valuations to a valuation provider for completion. If valuations are not permitted, then the method may further include transmitting a request for proposal (“RFP”) regarding the request for appraisals for multiple properties to a plurality of appraisal providers. Bids from the valuation service providers may be received in response to the RFP. Reviews of the received bids may then be received. A selection of a appraisal provider may then be received.

12-03-2009

20090299814

ASSESSING PERSONALITY AND MOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF A CUSTOMER TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND IMPROVE CHANCES OF A SALE - A method, system and computer program product for enhancing customer satisfaction with his/her shopping experience and improving the chances of a sale. The personality and mood characteristics of a customer is obtained by analyzing various features of the customer, such as the customer's facial image, the customer's gait, the customer's location of his/her gaze as well as analyzing other personalized information, such as who the customer is shopping with and information contained in the customer's profile (if one exists). By assessing the customer's personality and mood characteristics, a better sales approach may be recommended to the sales professional, or, alternatively, a better sales professional may be assigned to approach the customer thereby enhancing the customer's shopping experience by reducing the possibility of an unpleasant shopping experience as well as increasing the chances of a consummated sale.

Providing Tailored Messaging to Customers - A tailored messaging capability (also referred to as customized messaging) delivers individually relevant or individualized spend recommendations regarding merchants to cardholders at a level of granularity not previously available. This capability brings together the cardholder and the merchant environments to support a spend-centric revenue model. Based on a cardholder's spending history, this tool provides relevant merchant recommendations to the individual cardholder based on that cardholder's unique spend potential in view of that of their peer group. This capability encourages business spend in categories which have historically been paid by invoice, cash, or check. By highlighting relevant merchants, not only is perception of coverage shifted, but specific spend behavior is influenced.

01-28-2010

20100262468

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING WELDING CONSUMABLES - A system and method for managing welding consumable(s) is provided. The invention includes a welder having a consumable(s) monitor, a customer system and/or a remote system. The invention further provides for monitoring of welding consumable(s) usage and ordering of welding consumable(s) from suppliers, distributors and/or manufacturers. The invention further provides for an optional arc/weld quality monitor that provides information regarding weld quality. The invention further provides for invoicing a customer for welding consumable(s) as the consumable(s) are used by the customer. The invention further provides for invoicing of customers for welding consumable(s) that produce acceptable welds. The invention further provides for remote management of customer welding consumable(s) inventory based at least in part upon information received regarding welding consumable(s) usage. The invention further provides for communication with a production component, financial accounting component and/or materials management component in order to facilitate automation of welding consumable(s) management.

10-14-2010

20100262467

System and Method for Automatic Configuration and Management of Home Network Devices Using a Hierarchical Index Model - A system for automatically installing and managing devices in a home network implements automated configuration and maintenance of devices and peripherals. A service platform facilitates automated discovery and deployment of home networks and devices that interact with the network. The system includes a monitoring and learning processes for automatic issue detection and alerting. Activity of users and devices within the home are monitored, usage patterns are learned and applied back to the system to improve the digital performance of the home. This system leverages data center, service node, and agent software in the devices to access a knowledge base storing data regarding home entities. A hierarchical index model is used to assign intelligence levels to these entities based on certain parameters. The indices are used to direct alert messages, take an action, and implement a targeted facility for providing communications from network managers or service providers.

10-14-2010

20100262466

APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZATIONAL MERGER AND ACQUISITION ANALYSIS - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for merger and acquisition analysis. A survey module may provide a survey regarding organizational aspects, including both subjective aspects and objective aspects. A database module may gather responses to the survey regarding a first company and a second company that are merger candidates into a database of survey data. A reporting module may display a graphic that presents a visual summary of the survey data for each organizational aspect. A recommendation module may generate action recommendations to address root causes of impacts regarding the merger based upon the survey data in the database. The visual summaries may be arranged in a pictorial representation of an interrelationship between the organizational aspects that may be interactively selectable by a user.

10-14-2010

20100262465

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AWARDING USER POINTS IN RESPONSE TO USER INTEREST - A method and system for awarding user points in response to user interest is provided. User points are redeemable for price discounts on products and services. The method involves, in response to receiving a user request for information, presenting to the user a question, receiving a user response from the user and incrementing a points balance associated with the user in response to the user response. The system includes a server for communicating with a user; a database for storing a points balance associated with the user; a question-and-answer component operable to present a question to the user and receive a user response from the user; and a points balance component operable to increment the points balance in response to the user response. The method and system are applicable to a theme-based website in which the questions presented to the user relate to the website theme.

10-14-2010

20100262464

ACTIVE LEARNING AND ADVANCED RELATIONSHIP MARKETING - Active learning and advanced relationship marketing are employed with respect to a mobile marketing system. A relationship between an advertiser and a consumer can become smarter over time as a function of interaction as well as non-interaction. Further, affinity groups or micro segments can be identified to aid tailoring of advertisements to consumers. Consumers can additionally be engaged in a dialog to acquire additional information and/or feedback data to develop a further understanding of specific consumers. Still further yet, assistance can be provided to advertisers so that advertisements can be customized for needs of potential customers.

10-14-2010

20100262462

Systems, Methods, and Media for Survey Management - A computer-implemented method for survey management is disclosed. Purchase data is received via a computer network from a first digital device coupled to the computer network. A targeted survey is generated based on the purchase data. A web link associated with the targeted survey is transmitted to a second digital device coupled to the computer network. A survey response is received via the web link from the second digital device. A weight is assigned to the survey response. The weighted survey response is transmitted for display on a third device coupled to the network.

10-14-2010

20100262459

Academic Achievement Improvement - Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for assisting students in technology utilization to optimize the students' academic achievements based on statistical relationships between the students' academic achievements and the students' technology utilization patterns. A software agent is provided for capturing the students' technology utilization patterns. The software agent uploads the captured technology utilization patterns to an analysis server via a network. The analysis server statistically correlates the uploaded technology utilization patterns with the students' academic achievements uploaded to the analysis server. The analysis server creates benchmark technology utilization patterns using the technology utilization patterns of one or more of the students selected based on predetermined criteria. The analysis server statistically correlates the created benchmark technology utilization patterns with the captured technology utilization patterns of the students. The analysis server generates and displays reports based on the statistical correlation.

10-14-2010

20100262454

System and method for sentiment-based text classification and relevancy ranking - The sentimental significance of a group of historical documents related to a topic is assessed with respect to change in an extrinsic metric for the topic. A unique sentiment binding label is included to the content of actions documents that are determined to have sentimental significance and the group of documents is inserted into a historical document sentiment vector space for the topic. Action areas in the vector space are defined from the locations of action documents and singular sentiment vector may be created that describes the cumulative action area. Newly published documents are sentiment-scored by semantically comparing them to documents in the space and/or to the singular sentiment vector. The sentiment scores for the newly published documents are supplemented by human sentiment assessment of the documents and a sentiment time decay factor is applied to the supplemented sentiment score of each newly published documents. User queries are received and a set of sentiment-ranked documents is returned with the highest age-adjusted sentiment scores.

10-14-2010

20100042467

Method and Apparatus for Implementing an Automatic Marketing System - The system provides a method and apparatus for automatically generating marketing and promotional information for an item for sale. The system tracks sales and offers for sale of similar items and determines the words, images, and descriptions that have been most useful in selling items in the past. The seller is presented with information about descriptions that can maximize price and/or minimize time on the market. The system operates by collecting data from prior sales including selling price, expected selling price, start date, end date, images of item, time of year, geographical region, and a dictionary of terms and phrases used in prior sales. These factors are analyzed and identified as helpful or hurtful in a number of categories, including selling price and/or time on the market.

02-18-2010

20090276291

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING SHOPS ONLINE AND OFFLINE - Garments are presented to a consumer using a computer by reading a database of garments, wherein the database of garments includes parameters for at least some of the garments represented by records in the database of garments, the parameters including at least a garment type, reading data representing a plurality of garment types, the data including, for each type of the plurality of garment types, obtaining consumer measurements from the consumer or a source derived from the consumer, obtaining garment measurements for garments in the database of garments, comparing customer measurements to garment measurements, scoring garments from the database of garments based on garment measurements and customer measurements, and presenting the consumer or consumer representative with a computer generated filtered listed of garments from the database of garments ordered, at least approximately, according to garment scores, based on context.

11-05-2009

20090276293

Methods, Systems, and Products for Conducting Electronic Commerce - Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. A merchant participates in an online community of merchants. Sales information is shared with the online community such that each merchant is informed of each sale of each merchant participating in the online community.

11-05-2009

20090276286

MEASURING PRODUCT CONSUMABILITY - Product consumability can be measured by recording customer interaction with customer support mechanisms and mapping the resulting data into consumability characteristics. The consumability characteristics correspond to specific customer experiences with various features and processes throughout the product lifecycle. Through an examination of data mapped into the various consumability characteristics, the vendor or manufacturer can focus on improving features or processes associated with the product.

11-05-2009

20100114649

Buffer Analysis Model For Asset Protection - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining an optimum buffer width for an above ground or buried asset. According to the method, a restorability measurement and a revenue measurement for the asset are determined. The restorability measurement indicates an ability for a technician to restore the asset when the asset becomes damaged. The revenue measurement indicates a value of a service provided through the asset. The optimum buffer width is determined based on the restorability measurement and the revenue measurement. The optimum buffer width includes a width of a buffer indicating an approximate location of the asset.

05-06-2010

20100010876

ON-LINE SALES METHOD AND SYSTEM - An on-line sales method includes providing a website operated by at least one computer connected to the Internet, receiving a user's submission of an amount for conducting a sales transaction, providing a plurality of items available for the user to select from and to potentially purchase at the submitted amount, and providing a selection option of the user determined based on the submitted amount. The method further includes receiving, on the website, the user's selection of multiple ones among the plurality of items in accordance with the user's selection option, conducting a computerized drawing to draw one out of the multiple items selected by the user. The drawn item has a published price that is equal to or higher than the submitted amount.

01-14-2010

20100010877

APPROACH FOR ESTIMATING USER RATINGS OF ITEMS - According to an embodiment of the invention, an approach is provided for estimating how a particular user would rate a particular item from a plurality of items. The approach is applicable to any type of items, including rental items such as movies, music and games, and the invention is not limited to any particular type of item. One or more items from the plurality of items that have ratings similar to the particular item are identified. One or more other users are identified that have given ratings to the one or more items that are substantially similar to ratings given by the particular user to the one or more items. An estimation is made of how the particular user would rate the particular item based upon ratings for the particular item given by the one or more other users.

01-14-2010

20100010875

RESOLVING DEMAND AND SUPPLY IMBALANCES - A system for resolving demand and supply imbalances includes a supply liability reduction process (SLRP) executable upon identifying an excess component inventory liability. The SLRP includes: a procurement and development assessment sub-process that represents a greatest magnitude of liability; a liability council assessment sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the procurement and development assessment sub-process; a sales activities sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the liability council assessment sub-process; and a liability write-off sub-process that represents a magnitude of liability less than that of the sales activities sub-process. The SLRP performs one or more sub-processes in an order of the magnitude of liability. The sub-process reduces the excess component inventory liability by: determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing for enticing sales of alternative end products.

01-14-2010

20100010872

PERSONA-BASED CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND METHODS FOR SALES SUPPORT - The present invention represents a web-based, CRM-integrated system and method for unlocking the creativity of salespeople at all levels when selling to different buyer personas within a buying community throughout the buying cycle. The system of the present invention may be flexible and may integrate the collection of data through questions posed to a user, as well as secondary data sources. This data may be utilized to create a tool for the sales process and to facilitate learning by salespeople. The tools created and utilized by the system may include personas, playbooks, and matrixes. These tools may be designed to facilitate the identification of a best action or choice in response to a particular situation or dilemma.

01-14-2010

20100010873

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMATION ACQUISITION AND SHARING - A business card scanner with software recognition or optical character recognition (or at a network server) that is placed within a business, retail space and/or point of customer contact and typically at the point of customer sale in the particular business. A business card can be requested from a customer by a customer service representative within a business. A free standing automated kiosk, interactive screen, or stand-alone automated inquiry could also request a business card from anyone in the vicinity via inquiry. The configuration of the business card scanner that resides in a kiosk model could be stand alone or be part of a larger modality/device already within a particular business or used in conjunction with other devices in the same space. The inquiry is any type of messaging/communication that results in a business card being inserted by a customer.

01-14-2010

20100010871

METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK DATA WITHIN A DISTRIBUTED E-COMMERCE SYSTEM - A system and method to provide feedback data within a distributed feedback system of an e-commerce system. Feedback data describing e-commerce transactions are generated by buyers of goods and services and the corresponding sellers of these goods and services. The feedback data is stored and maintained within a set of feedback servers organized into a peer-to-peer network of distributed devices. The feedback data is organized into groupings of feedback data that are stored onto database storage associated with each of the P2P network nodes. Buyers and sellers may search the feedback data from these distributed data sources to obtain reputation data associated with parties with which they propose to enter into new transactions for goods and services.

01-14-2010

20100010874

Systems and methods of evaluating and extending a loan secured by an invention idea of a borrower - Systems including computer readable programs and methods of evaluating loan applications and extending loans to borrowers secured by the borrower's undeveloped, but potentially patentable and/or marketable invention idea, includes evaluating an invention idea invented by a borrower, assigning a value to the invention idea and determining an amount of money to extended to the borrower, and obtaining one or more of an ownership interest in the invention idea or a security interest in the invention idea as collateral. Also disclosed are criteria for conducting an analysis of the invention idea to determine one or more terms of a loan to be extended to the borrower.

01-14-2010

20100010870

System and Method for Tuning Demand Coefficients - The present invention relates to a system and method for tuning demand coefficients. Transaction data for product categories is received from a store(s). Price elasticity and uncertainty values are selected for the product categories. This transaction data may be seeded with generic price elasticity and uncertainty values. Product categories where the transaction history is not sufficient enough to generate accurate demand coefficients may be identified. Tuning parameters for a product category are estimated using price elasticity and uncertainty values. The tuning parameters include price elasticity mean and price elasticity standard deviation. A modified likelihood function is generated by applying a normally distributed price elasticity term. The modified likelihood function may then be solved for its maxima, thereby generating tuned demand coefficients which may be output to a pricing optimization system for product price setting, and/or may be stored for later product categories. New sales data may be received from the store(s). This data may be used to retrain the tuned demand coefficients.

01-14-2010

20100010866

ADVERTISING ACROSS SOCIAL NETWORK COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS - A method, data structure, and medium are provided for presenting advertisements to users through a social networking web site and tracking the interactions of users with the advertisements. Advertisements describing a product or service can be presented to users of the social networking site along with a plurality of communication options for communicating the advertisement to other users through the social networking site. Upon receiving a selection of a communication option from the user, the advertisement is accordingly communicated to other users through the social networking site. The interactions of those users with the advertisement is then tracked and reported to a third party. The cost of presenting the advertisement can be calculated based on the interactions of users with the advertisement.

01-14-2010

20100010865

Method, System and Software Product for Optimizing the Delivery of Content to a Candidate - A computer-implemented method and system for improving recipient response rates to content presented via a data communications network to a plurality of recipients based upon recipient response data, wherein the content comprises a plurality of content factors. Each content factor is selected from one or more corresponding content levels. A data structure is provided for containing recipient response data associated with content comprising combinations of content levels. A plurality of content samples is generated by forming combinations of content levels for a plurality of content factors in accordance with respective combination weightings derived from recipient response data contained within the data structure. The plurality of content samples is presented to a corresponding plurality of recipients via the data communications network. The recipient responses to the content samples are received via the data communications network. The recipient responses are analysed to identify one or more combinations of content levels resulting in high recipient response rates relative to other combinations in accordance with predetermined statistical criteria. The recipient response data associated with combinations of content levels resulting in high recipient response rates is stored within the data structure.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME PREDICTION OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION - A system and method for real-time prediction of contact center customer satisfaction including means and steps for capturing an interaction between a customer and a customer service agent, converting the captured interaction into transcribed text, analyzing the transcribed text to extract a plurality of unstructured features most closely related to customer satisfaction, combining the extracted features with a plurality of structured features obtained from other contact center data, generating a customer satisfaction score from the combination of extracted unstructured features and structured features, and presenting the customer satisfaction score to contact center personnel.

12-30-2010

20100030621

Apparatus Configured to Host an Online Marketplace - A device configured to host a marketplace on at least one network is provided. A method of providing such a device is also disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one computer device configured to communicate with a plurality of clients via at least one network. The clients may include vendors, such as sellers, and customers, such as buyers. The one or more computer devices include at least one processing unit. The at least one computer device is configured to determine a vendor quality rating, providing bidding segmentation or provide customer feedback blocking. Methods of providing vendor quality ratings, bidding segmentation or customer feedback blocking are also provided.

02-04-2010

20090271251

POINT OF VIEW SHOPPER CAMERA SYSTEM WITH ORIENTATION SENSOR - A point of view shopper camera system is provided to generate and analyze shoppers' view data. The point of view shopper camera system may comprise a head device including an eye camera and a head orientation sensor, a position tracking sensor to identify a shopper's position, and an analysis computing device. The eye camera may be configured to be mounted to the head of the shopper, and to capture a still or moving image of the field of view of the shopper. The analysis computing device may be configured to receive the captured image data from the eye camera, head orientation data from the head orientation sensor, and the shopper's position data from the position tracking sensor, and determine an estimated field of view of the shopper during a trip in a shopping environment.

10-29-2009

20090271250

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN IN-SITE SALES WIDGET - Commerce widgets placed on webpages allow a full purchase transaction (browsing, selecting, and buying the product) to take place on the content owner's site (the host site). Webmasters may set the sale price and collect statistics on buyer behavior and habits. By keeping the entire transaction on the webpage, a visitor/customer is not redirected to another website. In addition, purchases may be made from within a displayed video stream.

10-29-2009

20090271249

Computer-Based Rating System and Method Having Mid-Quartile Filter - A method for a rating system identifies user-selected performance indicators associated with one or more properties. A rating is computed for each of the user-selected performance indicators and for each entity in an entity class by applying at least the user-selected performance indicators to a rating algorithm. The entity class is divided into at least three approximately equal numbers of entity. For each of the performance indicator rating, the method sorts the performance indicator relative to a respective performance indicator of the other entity in the entity class, maps the sorted results to one of the at least three divisions of the entity class, and identifies and presents a portion of the user-selected performance indicators that represent indicators that outperform or underperform the entity class.

10-29-2009

20090271247

SYSTEM FOR CREATING A SOCIAL-NETWORKING ONLINE COMMUNITY - A system and method are provided for creating a social-networking community and enabling the social-networking community to interoperate with other social-networking communities within a network of social-networking communities. The method includes creating a core profile that links a user member's identify to plurality of social-networking communities of the network. The system enables user identity information, content, and friend information to be shared across social-networking communities of the network. The system also enables community content to be shared and tracked across social-networking communities of the network.

10-29-2009

20090271248

PRECALCULATION OF TRENDING ATTRIBUTES - A credit attribute delivery system receives consumer financial data and generates trending attributes. The trending attributes are stored in a precalculated trending attribute database. The credit attribute delivery system may respond to a request for consumer trending attributes in a real time manner by accessing and providing the trending attributes stored in the precalculated trending attribute database.

10-29-2009

20090271246

MERCHANT RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Automated generation of a merchant recommendation list is disclosed. When a financial processor obtains rich and relevant information related to consumers and merchants, collaborative filtering, profiling, clustering and predictive modeling techniques are combined to provide merchant recommendations to a consumer. The system analyzes consumer attributes which relate to target consumer attributes to create a target consumer cluster, creates associations based upon merchant attributes and the target consumer attributes and provides the feedback based on the associations.

10-29-2009

20090271245

ASSORTMENT PLANNING BASED ON DEMAND TRANSFER BETWEEN PRODUCTS - A computer-implemented method described for facilitating selection of an assortment of products to offer for sale. The method includes receiving transaction data representing characteristics of a plurality of commercial transactions including a first product and a second product. Product attribute data representing attributes for at least the two products are also received. Substitution demand data for the second product is estimated which represents demand for the second product given the first product is not available, the estimation being based on the transaction data and product attribute data.

Electronic Transaction Receipt System and Method - In connection with a sales transaction, an electronic receipt is issued to the buyer that includes hyperlinks. A hyperlink can be associated with post-sale interaction with the product seller, the product manufacturer or parties acting on their behalf that involves the product itself, such as a product return procedure, a product warranty procedure, receiving rebate notices and recall notices, product registration procedures and similar functions.

11-26-2009

20090292586

Strategic Visioning System Using Bisociation Brainstorming - The instant invention is directed to a novel approach to identification and evaluation of the trends affecting a particular organization. By use of a specially designed software package, the participants in the evaluation are able to analyze and codify opportunities and/or threats that are present in the environment of the organization and to brainstorm solution as result of the codification of the stresses confronting the organization. This is accomplished by use of the software in a unique bisociational approach.

CONSUMER RATING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE BASED THEREON WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - The present invention is directed to providing consumer ratings and customer service based thereon within a virtual universe. A method for providing a consumer rating and customer service within a virtual universe includes: determining a consumer habit(s) of a customer in the virtual universe and then calculating a consumer rating, based on the determination of the consumer habit(s). From the calculated consumer rating, a particular consumer service is selectively providing in the virtual universe.

12-10-2009

20090307050

Method for Identifying, Rating, and Promoting Desirable Real Estate Listings - A method is disclosed for identifying and rating desirable real estate listings and posting them on the internet with other highly desirable listings. An agent may post only one listing at a time, either his/her own listing or, with permission, a listing of another agent. A submitted comparative market analysis (CMA) is validated, or “swept,” after which a “scrubbing” formula is applied to determine “threshold” prices. The listing is only posted if its listing price is below a threshold price. Embodiments include ratings of postings and of posting agents. Additional categories can be included for postings that are not below a threshold price. Listing agent commissions can be higher than posting agent commissions. Referral fees can be paid to listing or posting agents who do not participate in sales that result from postings. In embodiments, an agent cannot post a listing belonging to another agent in the same office.

12-10-2009

20090307062

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC FILE USE AND MANAGEMENT - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

12-10-2009

20090307048

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - A recipient's viewing or listening attentiveness to an advertisement is identified and subsequent advertisements are targeted to the recipient responsive to the recipient's attentiveness. The recipient may be a viewer or a listener of an advertisement, such as a television commercial. While the recipient is viewing or listening to an advertisement, if the recipient fast-forwards through or interrupts the advertisement, then a subsequent advertisement is chosen that has a higher probability of being viewed in its entirety. Thus, the advertisements are targeted toward the recipient based on the recipient's attentiveness to certain types of the advertisements. This increases the probability that the recipient will watch an entire advertisement, making the advertisement more effective.

12-10-2009

20100185498

SYSTEM FOR RELATIVE PERFORMANCE BASED VALUATION OF RESPONSES - A system for relative performance based valuation of responses is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store responses related to an item and scores of the responses. The interface receives the responses and communicates with devices of users. The processor may receive the responses related to the item. The processor may provide, to devices of the users, pairs of the responses. For each pair of responses, the processor may receive, from the devices of the users, a selection of a response. The processor may calculate scores for each response based on the number of times each response was presented to the users for selection, the number of times each response was selected by the users, and an indication of the other responses of the plurality of responses each response was presented with. The processor may store the scores in the memory.

07-22-2010

20100185499

ROBUST FORECASTING TECHNIQUES WITH REDUCED SENSITIVITY TO ANOMALOUS DATA - Robust forecasting techniques are relatively immune from anomalies or outliers in observed data, such as a stream of data values reflective of the operation or use of a computer system. One robust technique provides a relatively accurate forecast of seasonal behavior even in the presence of an anomaly in corresponding historical data. Another robust forecasting technique provides a relatively accurate forecast even in the presence of an anomaly that spans multiple recent observations. In one embodiment, both techniques are used in combination to automatically detect anomalies in the operation and/or use of a multi-user computer system.

METHOD FOR DETERMINING A PERSONALIZED TRUE COST OF SERVICE OFFERINGS - In embodiments of the invention, comparing service plans based on a user's usage data may include collecting at least one of predicted and past service usage and reward earnings data for a user's current service using a computer implemented facility, analyzing the service usage and rewards earnings data to obtain a normalized service usage and rewards dataset, normalizing data related to a plurality of alternative service offerings according to a normalized alternative service offering model, applying the normalized alternative service offering model to the normalized service usage and rewards dataset to produce a plurality of alternative service offering normalized datasets and comparing the alternative service offering normalized datasets to the normalized usage dataset according to at least one element of the datasets to determine if an alternative service offering is better than the user's current service. Related user interfaces, applications, and computer program products are disclosed.

07-22-2010

20100185492

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPARING ALTERNATIVE COMBINED INTERNET, TELEVISION, AND TELEPHONE SERVICE PLANS - In embodiments of the invention, a method for comparing combined internet, television, and telephone service plans includes collecting and analyzing a user's current combined internet, television, and telephone service usage data to obtain a normalized combined internet, television, and telephone service usage dataset, normalizing data related to a plurality of alternative combined internet, television, and telephone service offerings according to a normalized alternative combined internet, television, and telephone service offering model, applying the model to the normalized combined internet, television, and telephone usage dataset to produce a plurality of alternative combined internet, television, and telephone service offering normalized datasets, and comparing the datasets to the normalized combined internet, television, and telephone service usage dataset to determine if an alternative combined internet, television, and telephone service offering is better than the user's current combined internet, television, and telephone service. Related user interfaces, applications, and computer program products are disclosed.

07-22-2010

20100185486

DETERMINING DEMAND ASSOCIATED WITH ORIGIN-DESTINATION PAIRS FOR BUS RIDERSHIP FORECASTING - A method for forecasting demand for transportation services. The method includes running a count-to-demand translation module with a processor on a computer system and, with the computer system, receiving a count data for passengers getting on and off a vehicle at each stop along a route. The method includes operating the translation module to determine a demand for pairs of the stops such as origin-destination pairs on the route based on the counts at each stop. The set of count data includes a geographical location associated with each stop as well as the time. The demand found by the translation module is attributed to predefined time periods. In the method, the demand of at least some of the OD pairs of the stops is proportional to the offcounts at the destination one of the stops in the pairs relative to the offcounts in the other destination stops.

07-22-2010

20100185484

ALLOCATION OF INTERNET ADVERTISING INVENTORY - A method and system for allocating inventory in an Internet environment is provided. A method employed by the system may include generating several inventory pools, where each inventory pool represents a number of impressions deliverable to different groups of users characterized by attributes. Impressions deliverable to users represented by each inventory pool may be allocated to each inventory pool. Impressions that correspond to multiple pools may be distributed between the multiple pools. The inventory pools may be stored to a database. Afterwards, and order may be received. The order may include parameters that define an audience and a number of impressions. The number of impressions in the order may be allocated from pools in the database.

07-22-2010

20110077999

MANAGING CONSISTENT INTERFACES FOR RETAIL EVENT BUSINESS OBJECTS ACROSS HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEMS - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to retail event and retail incentive business objects.

03-31-2011

20110015966

DISPLAYING DATA FOR A PHYSICAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT ON A VIRTUAL ILLUSTRATION OF THE PHYSICAL RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - A method of displaying sales related data for a physical retail environment that sells physical goods on a human sized electronic illustration of the physical retail environment as a virtual retail environment is disclosed. The method may display the illustration of the virtual retail environment of the physical retail environment on an electronic display. The sales related data for a plurality of product s on the electronic illustration of a virtual retail environment may be displayed. The data may be displayed in proximity to the location of the corresponding products within the store layout. Additional detail may be displayed by selecting to see more information about an aisle, a shelf, a category or any other level of detail available.

01-20-2011

20090281870

RANKING PRODUCTS BY MINING COMPARISON SENTIMENT - A method of ranking a plurality of products includes obtaining a numerical user score for each of the plurality of products, calculating an opinion score for each of the plurality of products for which a written comparison sentiment applies, determining a final score by combining the numerical user rating and the opinion score for each of the plurality of products, and ranking the plurality of products based on the final score. The opinion score is derived from one or more written comparison sentiments containing a first product name and a second product name. In another aspect, a computer readable medium has instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause a computer to perform a method of ranking a plurality of products including at least a first product and a second product.

11-12-2009

20100332285

Intellectual Property Component Business Model for Client Services - An embodiment of the invention provides a computerized system for providing an IP framework, including a storage component, a user interface, and a reporting module. The storage component includes a collection of database tables having a capability field and keyword field. The database tables include data from a strategic planning computer module, an invent computer module, an IP creation computer module, an IP administration computer module, a defend computer module, an influence computer module, and a capitalize computer module. The user interface receives as input, an invention disclosure and/or a configuration file for an IP capability. The reporting module processes the input in the storage component and produces the IP framework.

12-30-2010

20100332291

SYSTEM, PROCESS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR EVALUATING LEADS - System, process, and computer program product for evaluating a lead are provided. A process for evaluating a lead may include determining whether each incoming lead is duplicative, determining a score for each lead, valuing each lead based on the lead score and outcome data, and determining sales capacity and the motor vehicle dealer's existing need for leads. The process may also include applying business rules to each lead using a processor, where the business rules may include the real-time optimization of sales capacity and lead need of a motor vehicle dealer. The process may further include routing each lead based upon the satisfaction of the business rules.

12-30-2010

20100332288

Operating a Sensor Recording Marketplace - A method and system are provided for targeting specific users with specific requested actions to be performed by the user and verified by any methods on behalf of an advertiser within an Internet display advertising campaign. The system discloses techniques for receiving an advertiser's requested actions and corresponding definitions of what constitutes a satisfaction of the action. The disclosure also details techniques for determining if and when and to what degree a requested action has been completed or satisfied by the targeted user, and details corresponding techniques for compensating the user and any other real or virtual entity who had contributed to the satisfaction of the requested action. The system implements a network of sensors that can aid in the determination of if and when and to what degree a requested action has been completed or satisfied. The network of sensors registers sensor recordings within a specialized sensor recording marketplace.

12-30-2010

20100332292

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING VEHICLE PURCHASE LOYALTY - One embodiment of the system and method described herein provides a vehicle loyalty system that gathers data on an individual's or a household's vehicles and analyzes purchase and disposal records within a particular time frame relative to the purchase date of each unique vehicle to determine brand and related loyalties. The system and method offer unique window definitions surrounding each purchase record such that data straddling a study time frame will still be caught and analyzed.

12-30-2010

20100332286

PREDICTING COMMUNICATION OUTCOME BASED ON A REGRESSION MODEL - Predicting a score related to a communication sent by a sender over a communications network to a first agent servicing the communication includes obtaining a regression result for an objective function by encoding features extracted from the communication. The encoded features are applied to a regression model for the objective function. The regression result is output to a network component in the communications network. The regression model is determined prior to or concurrently with receiving the communication from the sender.

12-30-2010

20110010225

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REVENUE UNLEAKING - Revenue leakage is one of the major concerns of telecom operators worldwide. There are several reasons for revenue leakage including frauds, data loss, poor utilization of network infrastructure, and churn. With the growth in subscriber base and increased competition in the market space, the lack of control on revenue leak could potentially affect the profit margins drastically. The operators are ever looking for solutions that could limit the various aspects of the revenue leakage. A system and method for addressing revenue leakage due to data loss in general and incomplete/partial data in particular needs to handle the issues related to the obtaining of additional information so that incomplete/partial data records lead to additional billing opportunity for the operators.

01-13-2011

20110010226

MARKETING MODEL DETERMINATION SYSTEM - A system includes a variable determination module determining a variable operable to be used for the final model and also determining a modification to the at least one variable. An assumption determination module determines an assumption operable to be used for the final model. The assumption includes a transformation for the variable describing how the variable impacts the marketing objective or how the variable impacts another variable operable to be used in the final model. The assumption module also determines a modification to the assumption. A model generator generates a candidate model using the variable and the assumption, and generates a new candidate model using the modified assumption, the new variable or the modification to the variable. The candidate model or the new candidate model is operable to be selected as the final model based on at least one of a statistical measure and an indication of relevance for the variable in the candidate model and the new candidate model.

01-13-2011

20110010222

POINT-IN-TIME BASED ENERGY SAVING RECOMMENDATIONS - Energy saving efforts should not compromise data center performance. An energy management application can determine usage patterns in historical energy usage data based on statistical analysis and energy models. Energy savings recommendations can be generated for future points-in-time based on the usage patterns. Business constraints can be applied to the energy savings recommendations to ensure that the energy savings recommendations meet performance requirements.

01-13-2011

20110010224

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER-TARGETED LISTINGS - Disclosed herein is a system and method relating to a listing service's listings, such as job listings of a recruitment service, targeted for a user using targeting information collected external to the listing service. A number of listings are identified for the user using the externally-collected targeting information and information obtained from the listing service including information about listings of the listing service. The user-targeted listing service listings are provided to the user outside the listing service's notifications, such as in a web page provided by a service other than the listing service.

01-13-2011

20110010223

System and Method for Administering a Survey - In a survey according to an embodiment of the invention, a subject may select from a list of items, such as activities. The subject may be asked to narrow the selection and then to supply information related to each of the remaining items. For example, the subject may be asked to indicate how much money the subject spent in the past 30 days on each of the selected activities. The subject may then be asked to assume that the spending must be reduced and to select or classify activities accordingly. Surveys may include various types of items, selection criteria, and/or information gathering that may be related, e.g., to selected items.

01-13-2011

20100057532

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING RELEVANT BUSINESS INFORMATION TO CUSTOMER AND FOR TRACKING CUSTOMER RESPONSES - A method and system delivers relevant information about a business to a customer and tracks customer visits to the business premise responsive to the delivery of relevant information. The method includes receiving by a computer-implemented system one or more queries from the customer for the relevant information about one or more businesses. The method further includes presenting through the communication network a total set of businesses to the customer, the total set being a list of identified businesses to the customer. The customer views online a view set of the businesses, the view set being at least a subset of the identified businesses on the list. The method further includes tracking customer visit to the premises of the one or more identified businesses based on location data transmitted by a customer mobile device.

03-04-2010

20110054984

STOCHASTIC METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND WAREHOUSE DEMAND FORECASTS FOR SLOW MOVING PRODUCTS - A method and system for determining distribution center or warehouse product order quantities of a slow selling product. The method includes the step of determining for each one of a plurality of stores supplied by the distribution center, a store sales forecast for the slow selling product. The method converts the store sales forecast to a stochastic forecast when the average rate of sale of the product is less than a minimum average rate of sale threshold value. Store order forecasts are thereafter determined by subtracting a store inventory value from the stochastic forecast when average rate of sale is less than the average rate of sale threshold value, and subtracting the store inventory value from the sales forecast when the average rate of sale is not less than said average rate of sale threshold value. The individual store order forecasts are accumulated to generate a distribution center demand forecast; which is compared with current and projected inventory levels for the product at the distribution center to determine distribution center order quantities necessary for maintaining a product inventory level sufficient to meet the distribution center demand forecast for the product.

03-03-2011

20100057533

MULTIDIMENSIONAL METHOD AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR PATENT AND TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO RATING AND RELATED DATABASE - A predetermined number of manifest or measurable variables is extracted from each of a plurality of patent documents obtained from a data base or another source and from these manifest variables four or more first order latent variables are defined comprising: knowledge stock, technological scope, international scope and patent value for each patent document and a dependency or causality relationship between the manifest and latent variables and between latent variables is defined. In order to rank the patent documents a PLS Path model operable on the manifest variables is constructed taking into account the latent variables and defined relationships among them, and by applying said PLS Path model the value of the latent variables and the dependency relationship between manifest and latent variables and between latent variables is estimated and the value of the latent variables estimated is used to rank the patent documents.

03-04-2010

20110015967

METHODOLOGY TO IDENTIFY EMERGING ISSUES BASED ON FUSED SEVERITY AND SENSITIVITY OF TEMPORAL TRENDS - A method for temporal trend detection employing non-parametric techniques. A set of discrete data is provided and a rank is assigned to the data based on both sensitivity and severity of the data. The method statistically ranks the ranked data by categorizing the data in bins defined by an average positional ranking that identifies the severity of the data for each sensitivity category provided by a bin. The method then clusters the statistically ranked data that has been categorized by average positional ranking so as to detect changes in the data. Clustering the statistically ranked data can include using a multi-nominal hypothesis testing procedure. The method then identifies trends in the data based on the detected changes.

METHOD OF ANALYZING A SALE PROCESS FOR A COMPANY - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-implemented method, a machine, and computer program product to determine an adequacy of a process to sell an entity responsive to competition, fairness, thoroughness, and good faith. A computer evaluates a sale of an entity by rating solicitation efforts associated with potential buyers of the entity, by rating information about the entity prepared for potential buyers, by rating time frames surrounding the sale, by rating circumstances associated with a transfer of the entity, by rating a negotiation process associated with the sale of the entity, and by rating efforts associated with an execution of the sale.

11-19-2009

20090287543

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING AGGREGATION OF SOCIAL CREDITS - Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for facilitating the aggregation of carbon reduction credits resulting from finance loans financing the purchase of energy technology. For example, a credit aggregator may receive from a finance institution estimate parameters describing a loan type. The credit aggregator may calculate a value of a carbon reduction credit associated with each loan of the loan type considering the estimate parameters and display the value to the finance institution. In addition, the credit aggregator may receive bid data and booking data from the finance institution. When a credit is booked, the credit aggregator may receive from the finance institution periodic indications of a status of the intervention technology.

11-19-2009

20090287541

Sample Store Forecasting Process And System - A method and system of predicting market information includes the steps of receiving first data, forecasting further data based on the first data, receiving second data and comparing the further data with the second data, and creating an adjustment factor to account for any difference between the further data and the second data.

11-19-2009

20090287540

System And Method For Allocating Prescriptions To Non-Reporting Outlets - A method for predicting market information for a plurality of pharmaceutical outlets includes the steps of receiving first data representing purchases and sales of at least one pharmaceutical product from at least one pharmaceutical outlet over a time period in the past, calculating the amount of prescriptions that are not reported in a timely manner at a product-level, computing a product-level projection factor for the at least one pharmaceutical product and using the product-level projection factor to estimate the unreported amount of prescriptions.

11-19-2009

20090287539

Sample Store Forecasting Process And System - A method and system of predicting market information includes the steps of receiving first data, forecasting further data based on the first data, receiving second data and comparing the further data with the second data, and creating an adjustment factor to account for any difference between the further data and the second data.

11-19-2009

20090287536

METHOD FOR DETERMINING CONSUMER PURCHASE BEHAVIOR - Disclosed is a method for determining consumer purchasing behavior by corresponding received transaction data and received electronic payment data at a purchasing behavior node. The correspondence between the received transaction data and the received electronic payment data can be determined using payment and purchase amounts with timestamps in the received transaction data and received electronic payment data. If the timestamps are unavailable, the correspondence can be determined using the order or sequence of the purchases and transactions. The purchasing behavior node links data from the electronic payment data with data from the received transaction data. The linked data provides valuable information on how specific consumers are spending their money.

11-19-2009

20090287533

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AN INVENTORY OF TELEPHONE NUMBERS - A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include storing telephone number inventory data using a database associated with a network, receiving, from a user system, a request for telephone number forecast data, forecasting future telephone number usage based on at least a history of telephone number inventory data, and providing, to the user system, telephone number forecast data based on at least the forecast of future telephone number usage.

11-19-2009

20090287542

System And Method For Allocating Prescriptions To Non-Reporting Outlets - A method for predicting market information for a plurality of pharmaceutical outlets includes the steps of receiving first data representing purchases and sales of at least one pharmaceutical product from at least one pharmaceutical outlet over a time period in the past, calculating the amount of prescriptions that are not reported in a timely manner at a product-level, computing a product-level projection factor for the at least one pharmaceutical product and using the product-level projection factor to estimate the unreported amount of prescriptions.

11-19-2009

20100250338

TRANSACTION RECURRENCE ENGINE - Embodiments of the present invention relate apparatuses and methods that allow a financial institution to monitor, group, and store customer transaction data and determine market information therefrom according to recurrence patterns. For example, in one embodiment a financial institution uses a computerized apparatus to monitor recurrences in financial transactions across a plurality of financial accounts maintained by the financial institution for a plurality of different customers, where the computerized apparatus is configured to automatically track recurrences in transaction data.

09-30-2010

20100250339

Maintaining viable provider-client relationships - A process for enhancing the relationship between a service provider and a client is disclosed. A first data set of feedback from employees of the service provider regarding service provided by the service provider to the client is received via machine interface. A second data set of feedback from a client regarding services provided by the service provider to the client also is received via machine interface. An analysis of the first and second data sets is implemented via a computer programmed to compare the first and second data sets and assess areas of similarity and areas of difference between the first and second data sets. A strategy is developed based on the analysis for the service provider to enhance areas of similarity and reduce differences between the first and second data sets. The strategy is implemented in the relationship between the service provider and the client.

09-30-2010

20100250335

SYSTEM AND METHOD USING TEXT FEATURES FOR CLICK PREDICTION OF SPONSORED SEARCH ADVERTISEMENTS - An improved system and method using text features for click prediction of sponsored search advertising is provided. A maximum entropy click prediction model that predicts the click probability of query-advertisement pairs may be generated from click feedback features and word pair features of a query and an advertisement. The maximum entropy click prediction model may be used to obtain click probabilities for query-advertisement pairs to determine and serve a ranked list of advertisements for display with query results in an online keyword search auction. A search query may be received and word features from the search query may be input into the maximum entropy click prediction model to obtain click probabilities for query-advertisement pairs. A list of advertisements may be ranked using click probabilities for query-advertisement pairs, the list of ranked advertisements may be priced in an online search keyword auction and served for display with search query results.

09-30-2010

20100250337

APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION ENGINE - A computed-implemented method and system for recommending business applications on a network-based marketplace are described. A user's listings, representing items for sale on the marketplace, are harvested to calculate segmentation data and metrics that form a user profile. The user profile is compared with other similar users who have subscribed to various applications, and the impact those applications have had on the metrics of the similar users is calculated in order to determine what impact the applications will have on the user in question. The impact, combined with user preferences, is used to suggest appropriate applications, which are displayed to the user within the marketplace. If the user selects one of the applications, the application is added to the user's profile and relevant listings are updated with the new application.

09-30-2010

20100250334

DYNAMIC PRINT JOB PROGRAMMING AS A FUNCTION OF RECIPIENT RELATIONSHIP - The apparent print quality of transaction promotions are matched to their recipients such that those more likely to respond favorably receive higher quality materials. Of the documents people receive, many, such as certain billing statements, also contain transaction promotions. Submitting a print job to a printer instructs it to produce a document by processing a document description. The document description can include a transaction promotion description. The transaction promotion can be printed at one of a number of predetermined quality levels by varying the document description, the print job, or the transaction promotion description. Knowledge of the intended recipient allows for the determination of a recipient quality level matching one of the predetermined quality levels. The document is then produced with a transaction promotion having a recipient based quality level.

09-30-2010

20100250331

EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF WEB-BASED PROPERTIES - Methods, systems, and media are provided for evaluating the quality of web-based properties for use as hosts of advertisements. Properties are automatically and dynamically evaluated for appropriateness of content, for instance, based upon extracted keywords and/or contextual information categories. Upon submission of an advertisement request, properties determined to be of insufficient quality are served a neutral advertisement, served a message indicating that no advertisement will be served, or served nothing at all. Advertisements determined upon submission of an advertisement request to be of sufficient quality are served one or more non-neutral advertisements as requested.

09-30-2010

20100250333

OPTIMIZING CASHBACK RATES - A method, system, and medium are provided for determining optimal sales rebate rates. Historical data, including sales data, price data, and rebate data are received, along with ongoing current data from current rebate transactions. Changes across the spectrum of data are determined and calculations are used to obtain an optimal sales rebate rate for one of more products or services utilizing statistical models, including but not limited to, a linear rebate rate model and a logarithmic-linear rebate rate model for one or more products or services. A mathematical analysis determines the appropriate model to use to obtain the optimal sales rebate rate. The optimal sales rebate rate may be applied to computing or non-computing environments, in whole or as a combination of both computing and non-computing environments.

09-30-2010

20100250329

Systems And Methods For Markdown Optimization When Inventory Pooling Level Is Above Pricing Level - Computer-implemented systems and methods generate a near-optimum product markdown plan for a plurality of uniform pricing levels having a required inventory sell-through target over all of the plurality of uniform pricing levels. A plurality of feasible markdown schedules are generated for the uniform pricing level, where each of the plurality of feasible markdown schedules meets all individual constraints for the uniform pricing level. All dominated feasible markdown schedules are removed for the uniform pricing level to generate one or more candidate markdown schedules for the uniform pricing level. A near-optimum product markdown plan is generated, where generating the near-optimum product markdown plans includes executing a limited exact algorithm solver for a plurality of iterations, and executing a dynamic programming solver if no product markdown plan generated by the limited exact algorithm solver is within the threshold percentage of the revenue upper bound.

09-30-2010

20100250327

TARGETED ADVERTISING FOR DYNAMIC GROUPS - A method performed by one or more devices within a subscription television network includes defining a micro-group, where the micro-group includes one or more user accounts associated with the subscription television network. The method further includes obtaining a profile for the micro-group and obtaining advertising corresponding to the profile of the micro-group. The method also includes sending the advertising to a device associated with one of the one or more user accounts.

09-30-2010

20100250328

BUSINESS ASSESSMENT METHOD - An assessment of a business is performed using a computer implemented tool to provide a strategy model, an operating model, and an IT model. The assessment is performed by a services providing company for a client company. The assessment is used to create a SOA solution for the business. The services providing company may also implement the SOA solution for the business.

09-30-2010

20100250326

SERVICE EVOLUTION APPROACH IN SOA - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for managing the evolution of a service-oriented architecture service over a service lifecycle. An implemented SOA service is evaluated with respect to each of a plurality of line-of-business business-scope attributes and to each of a plurality of different line-of-business functionality attributes. Sets are determined of each of the business-scope attributes and different functionality attributes, wherein each attribute of each determined set is applicable to the implemented service as a function of the evaluating. Sets of business attribute-service evolution factors and technical attribute-service evolution factors associated with the respective determined attribute sets are selected, and both of the sets of selected business attribute-service evolution factors and technical attribute-service evolution factors are used to re-factor the implemented service into a mature enterprise service in response to a service revision.

09-30-2010

20100250324

PROVIDING LOCAL CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION WITH CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENTS - Computer systems, methods and media for providing local contextual information in association with contextual advertisements are provided. A contextual advertisement is received, as is a location associated with a user. It is determined if any local contextual information relevant to the user's location is available for presentation. Upon determining that local contextual information is available for presentation, such local contextual information is presented along with the contextual advertisement, at least upon receipt of appropriate user behavior evidencing a desire to view the local contextual information.

USER INTERACTION LAYER - A method is disclosed for assessing a consumer's interest in content on a webpage in a client-server architecture. A consumer client terminal displays an interactive display layer, including webpage content from a webpage content server, to a consumer over a background webpage. Interaction data representing the consumer's interaction with the interactive display layer is received and recorded. The interaction data may be used to update the display properties of the interactive display layer. The interactive display layer with the updated display properties may be displayed to the consumer.

02-10-2011

20100076820

Targeted Incentives Based Upon Predicted Behavior - A system and method for anticipating consumer behavior and determining transaction incentives for influencing consumer behavior comprises a computer system and associated database for determining cross time correlations between transaction behavior, for applying the function derived from the correlations to consumer records to predict future consumer behavior, and for deciding on transaction incentives to offer the consumers based upon their predicted behavior.

03-25-2010

20100076818

BEHAVIOR TRACKING AND USER PROFILING SYSTEM - A method for collecting user data and constructing a user profile as a digital content vending machine, DCVM is employed which includes an infrastructure and an inventory on a client in a computerized device. The infrastructure presents a graphical user interface on the client which may metaphorically resemble a pillar cover or a plurality of stores operated by vendors. User-customers shop by navigating the pillars or visiting the stores, thus viewing and selecting assets (inventory) and their actions during this are monitored to collect data.

03-25-2010

20100076817

MANAGEMENT OF E-TICKETS - A method and system is provided for managing a sales quota for the sale of one or more services or products, by an agent for a supplier, to ensure the agent does not surpass a first predetermined limit based on a criterion associated with the sales. The method includes measuring the sales of the service or product by the agent during a first predetermined time period, computing associated statistical indicators from the sales measures, and determining a sales quota for the agent to apply during a second predetermined time period. The sales quota is based on the statistical indicators and one or more airline business rules, to enable management of the sales of the agent without the sales surpassing the first predetermined limit.

03-25-2010

20100076815

STORAGE OPTIMIZATION FOR UPDATED USER BEHAVIORAL PROFILE SCORES - Scores are maintained usable by a behavioral targeting service for providing personalized content, such as advertisements. Event indications are processed, wherein the event indications being processed are indicative of user interaction generally with at least one online. It is determined, based at least in part on detected events (usable for scoring), scoring data indicative of user behavior relative to the at least one online service for each of a plurality of targeting categories. This includes updating the scoring data based on additional event indications being detected as being usable for generating scoring data for behavioral targeting. The updated scoring data is caused to be provided to the data store accessible to the behavioral targeting service when it has been determined that the updated scoring data will change the operation of the behavioral targeting service with respect to personalized content that would be served based on the updated scoring data.

03-25-2010

20100076813

MARKET DYNAMICS - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a market-dynamics network that assesses social and economic market dynamics in specific geographic regions. For example, the market-dynamics network collects transaction data from a large number of business-merchants across a large number of geographic locations and appends geographic-location identifiers to the collected transaction data. The market-dynamics network then aggregates transaction data in specific geographic regions and, based on the aggregated transaction data, assesses social and economic market dynamics in those geographic regions.

03-25-2010

20100076812

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS - Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a performance-measuring network for measuring the performance of a business-merchant relative to other business-merchants competing in the same or similar markets. For example, the performance-measuring network collects transaction data from a large number of different business-merchants. The performance-measuring network then assigns each of the different business-merchants to one or more peer groups. Each peer group consists of business-merchants that compete in the same or similar markets. For example, each peer group consists of business-merchants that sell similar products and/or services in the same geographic markets. After collecting transaction data and creating peer groups, the performance-measuring network measures the performance of a specific business-merchant by comparing the transaction data of the specific business-merchant to the transaction data of the other business-merchants that are assigned to the same peer group(s) as the specific business-merchant.

Systems and Methods for Utilizing Assist Data to Optimize Digital Ads - Systems and methods for utilizing assist data to optimize digital ads are disclosed. In one implementation, a forecast for a performance of a digital ad is generated. The forecasted assist data is converted into conversion data associated with the digital ad. A media plan for the digital ad is generated based at least in part on the converted conversion data, and the digital ad is served based on the generated media plan.

12-31-2009

20100049589

ISSUER DEVICE SUPPORT OF AN INTEGRATED OFFER NETWORK - A method begins by determining option criteria for a group of transactional cards. The method continues by providing the option criteria to a transactional processing entity device. The method continues by receiving, from the transaction processing entity device, a plurality of options that are in accordance with the option criteria. The method continues by processing a selection of at least one of the plurality of options to create an options data file for the group of transactional cards. The method continues by providing the options data file to the transactional processing entity device.

02-25-2010

20100049586

METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN ADVERTISING SLATE BASED ON AN EXPECTED UTILITY - A method of determining which of a plurality of ad slates to present on a web page uses an expected utility function, wherein the expected utility function takes into account known and unknown variables and utility functions associated with each combination of unknown variables, to calculate an expected utility for each slate, and presents the slate with the highest expected utility.

02-25-2010

20100049588

TRANSACTIONAL PROCESSING ENTITY DEVICE SUPPORT OF AN INTEGRATED OFFER NETWORK - A method begins by generate, for each of a plurality of merchant devices, an offer data file to produce a plurality of offer data files. The method continues by compiling, for one of a plurality of issuer devices, an options data file for a group of credit cards based on at least one of the plurality of offer data files. The method continues by transmitting the options data file to the one of the plurality of issuer devices. The method continues by receiving, from the one of the plurality of issuer devices, at least one selection from the options data file to produce an options program file for the group of credit cards. The method continues by receiving, from a card holder device associated with one of the group of credit cards, a selection of at least one option from the options program file to produce at least one selected option. The method continues by processing transactions of the one of the group of credit cards in accordance with the at least one selected option.

02-25-2010

20100049584

COMPETITIVE ADVERTISING SERVER - Competitive content item serving is provided. Competitive content item serving can include the ability to receive a request for a content item and to compare an expected return for a first network content item to an expected return for a second network content item. Based upon the comparison, it can be determined whether to provide the first network content item to the publisher.

02-25-2010

20110040602

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING AND AGGREGATING SURVEYS AND OPINIONS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for facilitating and aggregating surveys and opinions regarding multimedia data in connection with a purchasable good or service. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for facilitating and aggregating surveys and opinions comprises receiving at a central server, from a first user, multimedia data associated with a purchasable good/service, associating a set of attributes with the purchasable good/service at the central server, presenting the multimedia data associated with the purchasable good/service and the set of attributes to a second user, receiving feedback reflective of the second user's opinion based on the multimedia data associated with the purchasable good/service and the set of attributes, and displaying the feedback to the first user.

02-17-2011

20110040601

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUSTOMER SEGMENTATION USING ADAPTIVE SPECTRAL CLUSTERING - A method and system for customer segmentation using adaptive spectral clustering may include determining initial segmentation labels, determining new customer behavior data, formulating a single objective minimization function that integrates the initial segmentation labels with the new customer behavior data, and determining best fit to both the initial segmentation labels and the new customer behavior data simultaneously by minimizing the single objective minimization function.

02-17-2011

20110071885

System and Method for Disaggregating Weekly Forecast Into Daily Components - A computer-implemented method transforms transactional data into a forecast of demand for controlling a commerce system. Goods move between members of a commerce system. The transactional data is recorded. Daily disaggregating parameters (DDP) are estimated by minimizing an error function of day of week and transactional data grouped according to promotion, price range, or customer. Model parameters are estimated based on the DDP and transactional data using a demand model to generate a weekly forecast of demand for the good. The weekly forecast of demand is disaggregated into daily components using the DDP. The daily components of the forecast of demand are provided to a member of the commerce system to control the movement of goods in the commerce system. Any variation in the demand model due to promotions, price changes, out-of-stock, and low selling product is taken into account when determining the daily components.

03-24-2011

20110071886

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING ORGANIZATIONAL SPEND - A system and method is disclosed for modeling, predicting, forecasting, and analyzing organizational spend/procurement, such as travel spend. In various embodiments, a method for modeling, predicting, budgeting, and optimizing business spend and procurement is provided comprising obtaining benchmark data, obtaining opportunity assessment data, obtaining organizational cost data, modeling the opportunity assessment data in comparison to the benchmark data, and determining a potential cost result based on the modeling. The method may further comprise adjusting the opportunity assessment data to achieve a desired cost result.

03-24-2011

20110071881

MINING LIFE PATTERN BASED ON LOCATION HISTORY - Techniques for providing mining life pattern are described. This disclosure describes mining a life pattern of an individual, for example, by identifying places visited during the individual's daily activities. Mining the individual life pattern includes collecting location data for the individual and predicting behaviors and preferences of the individual based at least in part on a location history. The location history of the individual is represented with a sequence of geographical regions that have been visited by the individual with corresponding arrival and departure times for each region. Once the life pattern is predicted from the location history, information is recommended to the individual based at least in part on the life pattern.

03-24-2011

20090327049

FORECASTING DISCOVERY COSTS BASED ON COMPLEX AND INCOMPLETE FACTS - The discovery cost forecasting system uses incomplete information to generate forecasts of discovery expenses. Models are generated with different levels of granularity depending upon the available facts and user preferences. An expert provides real-time information to improve the accuracy of the predictions. A scenario analysis is generated that evaluates how changes to the parameters of the matter could affect the forecasted cost. An estimate is generated of the degree of advancement of the matter in its lifecycle as part of the cost forecast. The cost associated with each data source and custodian is tracked and reported. A configurable and extensible cost equation is defined. A dashboard user interface is generated to monitor the entire portfolio to extract easy to understand facts, trends, and early warning signs related to discovery cost management.

12-31-2009

20090327043

Method And System Of Ranking A Document - A method and system of ranking a document includes submitting an importance rank for the document by a first plurality of users for assigning a document importance rank to the document. A second plurality of users votes on the document for determining a popularity rank of the document where the popularity rank indicates a popularity of the document and the popularity rank at least, in part, determines a popularity index for the document. N number of users of the first plurality of users that submitted the N highest importance ranks receives incentives when the document has the popularity rank greater than the popularity index.

12-31-2009

20100145773

System and Method for Generating Product Decisions - The present invention relates to a system and method for generating business decisions. Embodiments of this system and method receive customer transaction data and additional information (cumulatively referred to as ‘modeling data’). This data is utilized to generate a product decision tree which models consumer purchasing decisions as a tree structure. The product decision tree may be utilized by the system to analyze demand for a given leaf (product) in association with other related products. In some embodiments, customers are segmented into groupings of customers who have similar attributes, including similar shopping behaviors. Customer insights are generated for the customer segments. The customer insights and the product decision tree are used to generate business plans, which may then be provided to a store for implementation. These plans may include a product assortment plan, an everyday pricing plan, a promotional plan, and a markdown plan.

06-10-2010

20110047004

MODELING CAUSAL FACTORS WITH SEASONAL PATTTERNS IN A CAUSAL PRODUCT DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEM - A method and system for forecasting product demand using a causal methodology, based on multiple regression techniques. In order to better predict product demand changes associated with causal variables having seasonal patterns, such as temperature, the method and system include a technique for removing the seasonal variation of causal variables, i.e., to de-seasonalize the causal factors. The de-seasonalized causal variables are utilized within the causal methodology to generate product demand forecasts.

02-24-2011

20110029354

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT BRAND PROFILING OF CELEBRITIES BY USING ONLINE PROCESSING SYSTEM - A method of online providing brand profiling information of a celebrity, the method including the operations of having a brand selected for each product category by a plurality of connectors who connect to a website, and having a person selected, wherein the person is approved to match well with the brand; increasing a number indicating how many times the person is selected whenever the person is selected by the plurality of connectors, and when the number exceeds a predetermined reference, changing data indicating whether the person needs to be requested to open his/her brand profiling into an open status, and extracting the person the data of whom is changed to the open status; requesting the person for performing brand profiling; having the person select a brand for the each product category; and opening the brand selected by the person.

02-03-2011

20110077995

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND PROPAGATING COMPUTER BENCHMARK DATA - An improved system and method for collecting and propagating computer benchmark data is described. A user downloads from a server and runs client software on a particular computer system, configuration, or component. The client software performs benchmarking functions on the system, returns the results to the user, and uploads the data to the server, where it is saved to the appropriate product record. The compiled benchmark scores are displayed on a product page, can be used further used for various business purposes.

03-31-2011

20100114666

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCH PANEL MEMBERS - System and method for optimizing composition of a pool from which members are selected to serve on market research panels are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a database comprising a plurality of member profiles and survey data associated with the members and a datamart for periodically scanning the database to discover events and subsequently logging each of the discovered events in an event log. The system further includes an offense module for periodically evaluating the event log to determine whether one of the discovered events comprises an offense committed by one of the members and logging the offense in an offense log and an audit module for performing an audit of the one of the members and logging results of the audit in an audit log.

05-06-2010

20100114650

COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED, AUTOMATED MEDIA PLANNING METHOD AND SYSTEM - An automated computer system for media planning is provided. The automated computer system includes functionality for determining geographically-localized estimated sales data for use in generating media plans. The automated computer system also includes functionality for determining the relative value of a localized geography to a media plan. The automated computer system further includes functionality for a media buyable unit (MBU) score for use in generating a geographically-localized media plan.

05-06-2010

20100049583

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTION OF INFORMATION - Personal and/or group records of actions and events are kept, and statistical correlations between such actions and events are established. Actions undertaken by a user of an electronic device are monitored. If the statistical correlation between the first action that has been undertaken and a second action, e.g. a buying action, exceeds a threshold, information relating to the second action is selected and sent to the electronic device. The invention identifies and makes use of iamiliar paths leading to a second action and reacts to the undertaking of a first action preceding the second action by sending information to the user. Sending information is timed with the occurrence of an action which is a part of a path that is familiar to the user and leads to the second action.

02-25-2010

20100223100

Methods and Systems for Sales Networking - Methods and systems for sales networking are provided. A user of a database system can be helped to identify relevant business opportunities from those similar to a selected opportunity. For example, a salesperson can search for similar deals to the one the person is working, contact people who have worked similar deals and ask for their advice, and bookmark those deals to refer back to them as they work the deal. The similar opportunities can be found by matching properties (such as field and related records) of an opportunity record that corresponds to the opportunity of interest.

09-02-2010

20100205034

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MODEL CONSUMER AWARENESS FOR CHANGING PRODUCTS IN A CONSUMER PURCHASE MODEL - Example methods and apparatus to model consumer awareness for changing products in a consumer purchase model are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving utility values associated with at least one of a product or a product attribute, and identifying an agent awareness state associated with the restage product and the original product. The example method also includes calculating a choice probability for the restage product based on the estimated utility values associated with the identified awareness state, and outputting the choice probability for use in a simulation of consumer purchase.

08-12-2010

20100121684

System and Method for Capturing Information for Conversion into Actionable Sales Leads - The system and method relates to business-to-business marketing organizations who participate in lead-generation activities via their company website, client customer relationship management systems, and other available business information. More particularly, it provides a target lead-generation system and method that targets the right businesses and personnel within those businesses using real-time predictive and behavioral analytics and website traffic data, reaches the right business buying person via role-based contact data and connects businesses to potential customers and suppliers to drive business revenue.

05-13-2010

20100121680

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING INSTALLATION SITES OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL STATIONS - A method and system to identify suitable installation sites for alternative fuel stations. The system uses geocoded data sets and other data pertaining to a particular geographic market to generate three models: (1) the system generates a market capacity model that indicates the total number of stations that could be sustained by the present and/or projected consumer demand for alternative fuel within the market; (2) the system generates a hotspot model that indicates the geographic variation of estimated demand for alternative fuel within the market; and (3) the system generates a trade area model that indicates which locations within the market are quickly accessible by a sufficiently high number of alternative fuel consumers. When combined, these three models permit a user of the system to identify and analyze those locations within the market that are most suitable as alternative fuel station sites.

05-13-2010

20100088159

Switching camera angles during interactive events - Multiple camera angles of an interactive event are simultaneously transmitted as part of a broadcast. The simultaneous distribution of multiple synchronized streams of audio and/or visual information enables switching between cameras to be made by the audience members without interruption of the presentation of the event. In one embodiment, a performance studio might send out multiple synchronized concurrent streams. For example, a performance studio might transmit four distinct camera angles or streams, each at varying quality levels, such as the illustrated high-bandwidth and low-bandwidth encodings. Selection of the stream may also direct interactive feedback portions generated by the selecting audience member towards the selected object/individual. Alternatively, interactive feedback generated by the audience member may be directed globally to the producers of the event and selectively to the performers and other audience members of the event.

04-08-2010

20090307063

NETWORK-BASED SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT METHOD - An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response; and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast. The method also includes monitoring inventory levels at a replenishment service center by a supplier based upon a formal commitment, refilling inventory items at the replenishment service center, and facilitating delivery of the inventory items to the enterprise site by transmitting a pull signal to the replenishment service center whereby inventory items are delivered in response to the pull signal.

12-10-2009

20110077996

Multimodal Affective-Cognitive Product Evaluation - Repeated random-outcome trials together with affective, cognitive, and behavioral measures of liking and wanting may be used to assess consumer preferences. In an exemplary implementation of this invention, in each trial, a participant selects one of two sources (e.g., one of two beverage dispensers) of a product (e.g., a beverage). Each source dispenses the product randomly, with a probability initially unknown to the participant, but which he or she may guess while trying to select the most desired product. Affective measures of a participant's facial valence and sympathetic nervous system activation are taken while deciding on, anticipating the arrival of, receiving, using, evaluating, and reflecting on the product. The affective measures are combined with cognitive self-report questionnaire items and with behavioral measures to infer wanting and liking of a product.

System and method for computer program implemented internet digital music marketplace - A system and method for modeling and implementation of a computer program to provide an individual artist the ability to access a system for marketing music on the website, a fan voting system, an artist rating system, an artist award system, music genre chat rooms that play random tracks from the digital music store, the optional ability for multiple artists to post their live concerts, the ability for multiple artist to post tour schedules, music tournaments, charts, a digital music store that allow producers the ability to upload their instrumentals and sell them in a auction style listing, and a digital music store that gives multiple artist the ability to upload their music for sale with full control of their music's pricing and marketing. Said computer implemented system and method may be implemented on a single stand alone computer, or a computer terminal connected to a global public network.

11-19-2009

20110040603

Telemetrics Based Location and Tracking - A population activity mapping method may include detecting a plurality of wireless mobile devices within a geographic region. Individual wireless mobile devices may include a processor, a user interface, a transmitter and a receiver. The detecting operation may be performed by use of a wireless access point, a GPS satellite, and/or a base station, and may be performed at at least two different points in time. Input data may be provided based upon the detecting operation. A distance and speed at which the mobile devices travel within the geographic region may be discerned dependent upon the input data. The discerning operation is performed by at least one processor of a computer network. A time and/or location at which salable output is to be made available and/or an amount of salable output to be made available may be determined dependent upon the discerning operation.

02-17-2011

20110054981

Analyzing Local Non-Transactional Data with Transactional Data in Predictive Models - Systems and methods are provided that empowers various parties to combine transactional data and local non-transactional data using the collective intelligence gathered from a variety of sources to help the parties make more intelligent decisions relating to consumers. For example, the system can help select consumers based on the probability that the consumers will take advantage of an offer, coupon, or other item. In some embodiments, the present invention can be deployed as a part of a system that processes transactions. In this system, information associated with the transactions is analyzed in conjunction with non-transactional data in order to probabilistically determine whether a further action should be taken with the consumer.

03-03-2011

20100100424

TOOLS FOR RELATING FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL INTERESTS - Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus having processor configured to: (a) provide a user with access to the user's financial account via a graphical user interface; (b) determine user preferences based at least partially on the user's financial information; and (c) provide non-financial content to the user via the graphical user interface and based at least partially on the user preferences. In one embodiment, the processor is configured to determine user preferences by determining trends in the user's financial information. In one embodiment, the processor is configured to determine user preferences by distinguishing between user financial transactions that are regular and user financial transactions that are ad hoc.

04-22-2010

20090327037

System and Methods for Pricing Markdown with Model Refresh and Reoptimization - A system and method for tuning markdown plans is provided. Such a system and method may include configuring initial rule set. Initial Demand models are generated. A first optimization for inventory pricing may be received from the price optimization system. The first optimization uses the initial demand models and cost data. A markdown plan is generated by applying the initial rule set to the first optimization. The plan is implemented. Updated data may be received which mandates a re-optimization of the plan. Demand models are refreshed using the updated data. Initial rule set is updated by cross referencing plan history with the initial rule set and subtracting rule events that have previously occurred. A second optimization is received which uses the refreshed demand models and cost data. Then, the markdown plan is re-optimized by applying the updated rule set to the second optimization. The re-optimized markdown plan is reported, approved and implemented.

12-31-2009

20090248497

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING AND DETECTING NON-NORMATIVE BEHAVIOR - A system and method is disclosed for monitoring human interactions, including transactions and communications, profiling the subject and objects in those interactions, and comparing subject profiles to profiles of subjects with known characteristics to determine whether the test subject is normal or abnormal subjects. The behavior data can be collected electronically in a virtual environment, such as a website, through video surveillance, card access, phone records, purchase histories, or any other consistent identified record of behavior. The invention has application in detecting various types of unusual and malicious activity, including spam, viruses, terrorism, identity theft, and money laundering, to name but a few applications.

10-01-2009

20090248490

System and method of competitive business analysis - A system and method are provided for performing competitive business and/or financial analyses. The systems accept input concerning a specific business such as the industries and geographical markets in which the business operates. Based on the type of report selected, the system retrieves business and financial data concerning the industries and markets, and then computes a number of relevant statistical factors. Tabular and/or narrative reports are generated based on the computed statistical factors.

10-01-2009

20110015969

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING CONSUMER INFORMATION PREFERENCES AND USAGE BEHAVIORS IN WELL-DEFINED LIFE CONTEXTS - A system and method for collecting consumer information includes a data storage device included in a computer system. A data interface for use by a user offers services from a service provider. The services are selectable by the user. Event data of the user's activity is collected using the data interface. Timeline data is collected during the user's activity from the service provider. Also, personal user data is collected and the personal user data is anonymized. The event data, the timeline data, and the anonymized personal user data are correlated. A model of the user's preferences is prepared and displayed.

01-20-2011

20100114652

COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED, AUTOMATED MEDIA PLANNING METHOD AND SYSTEM - An automated computer system for generating a geographically-localized media plan including a number of selected media buyable units (MBUs) is provided. The system implements the following functions: receiving client-defined information and a number of business rules; receiving a number of MBUs each having a relative value and including a first and second MBU associated with a first media product option and a third and fourth MBU associated with a second media product option; applying an optimization algorithm to the client-defined information, the number of business rules and the number of MBU relative values to obtain a number of selected MBUs included in a geographically-localized media plan; and outputting the geographically-localized media plan for use by a client in media planning. The first MBU associated with a first geography. The second MBU is associated with a second geography and the first geography, with the first geography being larger than the second geography and the first geography substantially covering the second geography.

05-06-2010

20100138275

AUTOMATIC EVENT SHIFTING OF DEMAND PATTERNS USING MULTI-VARIABLE REGRESSION - A product demand forecasting technique is presented which employs multivariable regression analysis to identify demand associated with annual events and shift demand associated with those events when the events occur in different weeks of different years. Historical weekly product demand data is acquired for one or more years. An event influencing demand for products which occurs at in different weeks in a prior year than in the forecast year is identified. Mulitvariable regression techniques are used to analyze the historical weekly product demand data to determine demand components associated with the event. These demand components can then be removed from the historical weekly demand data and re-applied to weeks in the prior year corresponding to the week the event occurs in the forecast year to create a shifted historical weekly demand for said product.

06-03-2010

20100042480

SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MODELING COSTS AND PROFITABILITY OF A GOOD - Systems, methods and computer program products for determining a learning curve value and modeling an associated profitability of a good are provided. According to one method of determining a learning curve value, recurring costs of producing each unit of the good are modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Nonrecurring costs of producing each unit of the good are then modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Next, the learning curve value is determined based upon the recurring costs model and the nonrecurring costs value such that the sum of the recurring costs and nonrecurring costs at the determined learning curve value is minimized over the potential learning curve values.

02-18-2010

20100042479

SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MODELING COSTS AND PROFITABILITY OF A GOOD - Systems, methods and computer program products for determining a learning curve value and modeling an associated profitability of a good are provided. According to one method of determining a learning curve value, recurring costs of producing each unit of the good are modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Nonrecurring costs of producing each unit of the good are then modeled as a function of potential learning curve values. Next, the learning curve value is determined based upon the recurring costs model and the nonrecurring costs value such that the sum of the recurring costs and nonrecurring costs at the determined learning curve value is minimized over the potential learning curve values.

02-18-2010

20100042477

AUTOMATED DECISION SUPPORT FOR PRICING ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS - A facility for automatically determining a recommended price for an entertainment event ticket is described. The facility determines a first group of attributes of the entertainment event ticket. For each of a second group of attributes selected from the determined first group of attributes, the facility applies to the attribute a lift factor determined for the attribute to obtain a quantitative measure of the effect of the attribute. The facility then combines the obtained quantitative measures of attribute effects to obtain a recommended price for the entertainment event ticket.

02-18-2010

20100042475

System and method for the enablement of electronic commerce in a content network - An apparatus customizes electronic received information and facilitates electronic transactions with an individual consumer. The apparatus includes a consumer database for storing consumer profiles information corresponding to the individual consumer and a transaction database for storing transaction related information corresponding to individual commercial partners, including target content markers. A first computer program in communication with the databases modifies the electronic information received to include the consumer profile information stored in the consumer database which corresponds to the transaction-related target content markers in the electronic information. A second computer program in communication with the consumer database automatically monitors consumer interaction and automatically monitors consumer interaction and automatically updating the consumer profile data based on the interactions.

02-18-2010

20100042472

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION - A method of risk management across a mission support network is provided, including identifying a mission of the mission support network, and identifying, by a computer processor, assets of the mission support network. The assets include a mission asset to support the mission and a support asset to provide support to the mission asset. Each of the assets is characterized by a criticality index value to measure how important the asset is to a performance of the mission, and a vulnerability index value to measure a vulnerability of the asset to a threat.

02-18-2010

20100042470

CONTEXT BASED ADVERTISEMENT FILTRATION - A software and/or hardware facility for filtering advertisements based on variable contexts is described. The facility may ascertain whether incoming messages are advertisements and filter messages containing advertisements. Advertisements may be filtered for deletion, storage, and/or user alerts with or without storage. The user may be alerted to incoming advertisements either upon receipt or at a later time. Filtering and notification may be based on real-time context (e.g., mood, location, time, environment, device status, etc.). In addition, filtering may also be based on message context and other contexts. User feedback may also be employed to refine filtering algorithms.

02-18-2010

20100042468

AUTOMATIC SURVEY REQUEST BASED ON TICKET ESCALATION - A system and method of processing customer services requests is disclosed. A customer reported problem may generate a customer service request and problem ticket. A technical support team may respond to and resolve the problem. A customized customer satisfaction survey may be generated based on the content of the problem ticket. Customer feedback from the survey and customized surveys may be stored for analysis to retrieve and generate future customized surveys for future service requests.

02-18-2010

20100042465

Audience Manager and Custom Segments - A computer readable medium stores a program for audience data exchange, and has sets of instructions for obtaining data and providing the data to a first network within an exchange. The first network comprises a seller of the data provided to the exchange. The instructions are for offering for sale the data to a second network coupled to the first network. The second network serves as a first buyer of the data provided to the first network. The instructions monetize the data without the need for participation in a particular ad call.

02-18-2010

20110015968

AUTOMATED MEDIA AND CONTENT REPORTING SYSTEM FOR BROADCAST MEDIA - A reporting system for transmission broadcast media automatically monitors content distribution by media outlets and their delivery model, and identifies content and locates corresponding royalty arrangements and rights holders. Accordingly, royalty transactions can be minimized as superior rights holders can be directly compensated based on distribution models, private royalty agreements and statutory considerations. IN some embodiments superior rights holders such as a publisher can be compensated directly forgoing compensating intermediaries or inferior rights holders or performing rights organizations. Thus, the disclosed arrangements can calculate compensation amounts superior rights holder and a deduction amount for the compensation due to the inferior rights holder. Payment instructions for the payment amount to the superior rights holder are accordingly issued, and the payment instructions are reported to the inferior rights holder as well as the artist of a work in the content usage.

01-20-2011

20090265222

User Grouping Apparatus And User Grouping Method - An RFID aggregate storage stores a radio-frequency ID aggregate structure. The RFID aggregate structure is an aggregated data structure of a plurality of RFIDs, in which each RFID is associated with a location and time read out from a RFID tag, and RFID related information, hierarchically constructed by classifying RFIDs based on the readout location and further by classifying them based on the readout time. A proximity evaluator evaluates the proximity between the first user's RF ID aggregate and the second user's RFID aggregate. A user classifier classifies the first user and the second user in one group when the proximity is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

10-22-2009

20090327041

Facilitating compensation arrangements between data providers and data consumers - Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of facilitating a compensation arrangement between a data provider and a data consumer regarding one or more data-provider-related search activities, are described.

12-31-2009

20090327036

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS USING MULTI-SCALE CUSTOMER AND TRANSACTION CLUSTERING AND VISUALIZATION - Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for using multi-scale customer and transaction clustering and visualization according to the invention have been provided. Systems and methods according to the invention may use program code to obtain customer transaction data and categorize obtained customer transaction data. The systems and methods may also analyze the categorized customer transaction data in order to identify patterns among the data. The systems and methods may also use the identified patterns to isolate a selected number of behavioral factors and group customers into population segments based on the behavioral factors.

12-31-2009

20110060627

MULTI-PROVIDER FORMS PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH QUALITY OF SERVICE - A multi-provider forms processing system with a quality of service rating includes a plurality of portable computing devices, a plurality of service providers and a paper-like forms server coupled by a network. The paper-like forms server comprises a central scheduler and service provider manager and rater. The multi-provider forms processing system provides ratings for the service providers that are used in selection of services providers and processing of compound documents. In particular, the central scheduler tracks and determines where transaction failures occur, and based on these failures provides a quality of service rating for each service provider. The central scheduler also monitors the logs for completion as well as restarts, attempts, failure, reworked and re-performed transaction steps and provides ratings that can be reviewed by a user in selecting a service provider or automatically by a selection module.

03-10-2011

20100145769

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT INQUIRY AND INCENTIVE FOR VIRTUAL UNIVERSES - A system and method for inquiring about products and providing incentives to users participating in a virtual universe. The system comprises an information tracking system configured to track information about at least one of a product, a service, and one or more user purchasing the product or service based on obtained information associated with the product or service and the one or more users. The incentive system provides incentives for frequent purchases and incentives for time spent proximate to virtual universe product areas. The system also comprises a storage system configured to aggregate information obtained from the information tracking system to build a profile.

06-10-2010

20110066473

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ONGOING EVALUATION REPORTING AND ANALYSIS - A research and development system that gathers feedback from patients and healthcare providers with respect to the their experience with various aspects of a supplier's products in order to tabulate, consolidate, compare and analyze the data received rapidly and efficiently, and which can be used on successive iterations to determine future products and services.

03-17-2011

20110066472

Internet-Based Benchmarking System and Method for Evaluating and Comparing Businesses Using Metrics - A system and method for evaluating and comparing businesses and, more specifically, to an Internet-based benchmarking or management tool or platform that provides one or more metrics by which a business owner may anonymously track, evaluate and compare the relative condition of its business with other similarly situated businesses of the same or related type whereby the one or more metrics are based upon the business' quantifiable data (e.g., profits, movement of inventory, etc) that is indicative of the business' operations such that a business owner may implement improvements to the business' operations in response to the information provided.

03-17-2011

20110071882

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERMEDIATE TO LONG-TERM FORECASTING OF ELECTRIC PRICES AND ENERGY DEMAND FOR INTEGRATED SUPPLY-SIDE ENERGY PLANNING - A method of price forecasting in an electrical energy supply network and/or load (energy demand) forecasting of a given consumer of electrical energy, in the context of an electrical energy supply network that is adapted to supply electrical energy to a number consumers connected to the network. The method includes developing a multi-regime, regime switching stochastic model for determining day ahead/spot market energy prices using at least one historical profile and subjective opinion from at least one expert; and the multiple regimes correspond to a number of combinations of physical factors. A regime is identifiable by at least three factors. The method thus facilitates identifying the optimal mix of energy hedge and exposure to day ahead/spot market prices for deriving economic benefits in overall energy expenditure.

03-24-2011

20110004506

System and Method of Using Demand Model to Generate Forecast and Confidence Interval for Control of Commerce System - A method for transforming transactional data into a forecast and confidence interval for controlling a commerce system involves moving goods between members of a commerce system, and recording transaction data related to movement of goods between the members of the commerce system. The transaction data includes price, product, time, and promotion. The model parameters are estimated based on the transactional data using a demand model to generate a forecast of demand for the goods based on a proposed price or promotion. A confidence interval of the certainty associated with the forecast of demand for the goods is determined based on the proposed price or promotion. The forecast of demand for the goods and confidence interval is provided to the commerce system to control the movement of goods based on the forecast of demand for the goods and confidence interval. The forecast and confidence interval can be graphically displayed.

01-06-2011

20090327044

Method and apparatus for providing data statistics - Providing data statistics includes receiving property information of selected products input by users, searching and locating a Standard Property Union (SPU) corresponding to the property information in a database, the SPU comprising a set of one or more products sharing a set of one or more properties, generating behavior data, including by summarizing a cumulative number of behavioral instances associated with each product in the set of products included in the SPU, and outputting the behavior data.

12-31-2009

20090327031

RENT-TO-OWN MEDIA - The described implementations relate to rent-to-own media. One technique provides digital rights restricted media to a consumer on a rent-to-own basis. The technique also removes the digital rights restrictions from the media upon completion of the rent-to-own basis.

12-31-2009

20090327025

FUEL OFFERING AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses, systems and methods to facilitate the pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity fuel to a Customer. In one embodiment, the disclosure teaches a Fuel Offer Generator that facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers can buy these fuel offers such that they may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels (e.g., they may be set to strike prices). The Fuel Offer Generator also can establish a Premium Price that will be part of the fuel offer. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator employs a redemption condition based on a retail fuel pump price metric to establish the pricing of fuel offerings.

12-31-2009

20110022444

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING MOBILE APPLICATION VALUE - A method and system for assessing a value of a first application with respect to a use of a mobile communication device in communication with a second communication device are presented. The method entails assigning a set of proximity values that relate the use of the application to the communication between the mobile communication device and the second communication device, and determining an impact and a value based on the proximity values. The proximity values may include a relationship proximity value, a time proximity value, a geographical proximity value, an action proximity value, and one or more user-defined proximity values. The determined value may be expressed as a monetary value.

01-27-2011

20110022443

EMPLOYMENT INFERENCE FROM MOBILE DEVICE DATA - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for inferring a user's activity. During operation, the system collects contextual information recorded by a plurality of components located on a mobile device associated with the user. The system then extracts the user's behavior pattern based on the collected contextual information, and determines whether the user is engaged in an employment-related activity.

01-27-2011

20100318404

COMPENSATING STORES FOR CONSUMER INFLUENCE WITH AUTOMATED TRACKING - Consumer stores typically sell products at a retail profit, which covers the cost of pre-sale, consumer-influencing services regarding the products (e.g., discussions with sales associates, product demonstrations, and consumer inspections of the products.) However, consumers may utilize these services but may purchase selected products from other retailers that do not provide pre-sale services, and that may accordingly offer lower prices. This tactic may cause lost sales for consumer stores, and eventually store failures. Instead, the consumer store may charge the supplier an influence fee for consumer-influencing services based on a per-service price established between the supplier and the consumer store and consumer influence metrics tracked by a computer. The supplier may recoup the influence fee in the wholesale cost of the product, thereby distributing the shared benefit of the influencing services of the consumer store across all retailers and enabling a sustainable business model for providing the consumer-influencing services.

12-16-2010

20100318403

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOP-DOWN PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION USING ELASTICITY MODELING - A system uses elasticity modeling to enable cross category optimization of store display space for merchandise for any group of stores and items using point-of-sale data. A space elasticity curve is periodically created for each combination of performance metric, store cluster, planogram, and item segment, and is then scaled by individual store. A user can select any combination of stores and planograms, and the system then reconstructs the elasticity curves as individual “synthetic items,” which are averaged across the selected stores by creating average synthetic SKU records that reflect the estimated average store performance in each performance metric. The synthetic items are then used to either evaluate macro space performance across or within store areas, or to determine the best use of overall store display space available to permit management to optimally allocate display space for merchandise.

12-16-2010

20090254410

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING AND DELIVERING SPONSORED SEARCH FUTURES CONTRACTS - A method and system for constructing and delivering sponsored search contracts is provided. In one implementation, the method may include generating a financial instrument with terms, such as a contract, for selling click-throughs. The terms may include a volume of click-throughs, a price, and a core market. The price of the contract may be related to an expected quality of the advertisement. The core market may be described in terms of key words. The contract terms may be communicated to an advertiser. The advertiser may then bind an advertisement to the contract or sell the contract to another advertiser. The contract performance may be tracked and communicated.

10-08-2009

20100274635

Business Lifecycle Management Methods - In accordance with the embodiments described herein, methods of applying computer-implemented business lifecycle processes are disclosed, including process lifecycle and solution lifecycle processes. These methods may further apply frameworks and models associated with industry lifecycle, customer lifecycle, product lifecycle, and knowledge lifecycle.

10-28-2010

20090248486

SYSTEM FOR SUGGESTING CATEGORIES OF MOBILE KEYWORDS TO REVENUE GENERATORS - A system is described for suggesting categories of mobile keywords to revenue generators. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface being operatively connected. The memory may store categories associated with mobile carriers, keywords, and advertisements. The interface may communicate with revenue generators and users. The processor may identify the categories and associate each category with related keywords. The processor may receive advertisements and a selected mobile carrier from a revenue generator. The processor may suggest categories associated with the selected mobile carrier to the revenue generator. The processor may receive selected categories from the revenue generator. The processor may associate the keywords associated with the selected categories with the mobile advertisements and selected mobile carrier. The processor may provide one of the mobile advertisements to a user when the user searches for one of the keywords on a mobile device associated with the selected mobile carrier.

10-01-2009

20090259515

Use of network composition descriptors for determining product compatibility - Using peer-to-peer device descriptors for determining product compatibility involves obtaining, via a home network, descriptors that describe a composition of the home network. The home network composition descriptors are compared to descriptors of products available from an e-commerce service provider that is external to the home network. The comparison determines compatibility of the products with the devices of the home network. Identity of compatible products selected from the products based on the comparison is communicated to a user.

Inferring an Optimal Minimum Reserve Price from a Distribution of Bids in an Online Auction - Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to online auctions for keywords used in queries processed by online search engines. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to correlating a distribution of values to a distribution of bids and an optimal minimum reserve price based on historical bid data accumulated as part of producing search results.

10-14-2010

20100262457

Computer-Implemented Systems And Methods For Behavioral Identification Of Non-Human Web Sessions - Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for analyzing session data generated by a website in response to a visitor requesting data from the website. A system and method can be configured for receiving the session data and analyzing the session data to determine a plurality of website interaction behavioral metrics of the session data. The website interaction behavioral metrics of the session data are compared to detection settings. A determination is made as to whether the visitor to the website was human or non-human based upon the comparing step.

10-14-2010

20100262456

System and Method for Deep Targeting Advertisement Based on Social Behaviors - A method and system to display a targeted online advertisement to a targeted online user based on offline behavior profiles. The method include techniques for identifying offline behavior aspects of the online user through a variety of databases, including databases of physical sites visited, databases of transactions and amounts, databases pertaining to retail loyalty cards and databases hosting occurrence of real world events. Techniques employed for codifying offline behavior include classifying behavior into categories or groups, categorizing behavior by location of an event, size of expenditure, nature of event, frequency of event, and/or periodicity of event. Having established some codified offline behavior of the online user, the system proceeds by correlating some aspect of user's offline behavior to some aspect of an online advertisement. Given the correlation between the user's offline behavior and the targeting characteristics of the advertisement, the advertisement is optionally customized and displayed to the targeted user.

10-14-2010

20100262455

Systems and methods for spreading online advertising campaigns - A system is provided for managing the delivery of online advertisements across inventory units of an online advertising campaign. The system includes a sensor configured to detect current ad volume for an inventory unit of the online advertising campaign. The system also includes a campaign controller configured to generate a reference ad volume for the inventory unit, based on instructions and the detected ad volume; and a unit actuator configured to generate updated ad delivery control settings for the inventory unit, based on the reference ad volume and the detected ad volume. The system also includes a serving unit configured to serve an ad impression on the inventory unit based on the updated ad delivery control settings, wherein the reference ad volume is generated based on a proportion of ad volume served on the inventory unit compared to other inventory units of the online advertising campaign.

10-14-2010

20100179859

Method and System for Facilitating On-Line Shopping - A shopper is presented with a customized online store whose inventory is defined by the shopper. In one embodiment, specification of the inventory is conducted in a bricks and mortar store—either during checkout, or by the shopper walking the aisles and scanning items with a barcode scanner pen or the like. The inventory may be defined—at least in part—by scanning items in the shopper's home. A variety of other novel features useful in on-line shopping are also disclosed.

07-15-2010

20100274632

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION MONITORING SYSTEM - A monitoring system for monitoring user assessment information at a predetermined location in real time is disclosed. The system includes user input means positioned at the location to capture the user assessment information and data storage means to store the user assessment information where the user assessment information also includes time and location information identifying the time and location of the capturing of the user assessment information. The system further includes data processing means to process the user assessment information in combination with other related user assessment information captured at different times to generate summary information.

10-28-2010

20090276292

Methods, systems and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event - A method and system provide interactive participation during activity occurring at a college campus venue. Enjoyment for a plurality of enrolled participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The promotional messages are preferably related to businesses and other organizations associated with the college campus venue.

11-05-2009

20090276287

SYSTEM FOR PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS USING REAL-WORLD PHARMACEUTICAL TRANSACTIONS - A system for predictive analytics using real-world pharmaceutical transactions includes a computer having a processor and memory, a data collection component configured to aggregate data for a plurality of pharmaceutical transactions, and a data reduction module configured to eliminate non-compliant transactions to generate a reduced transaction data set. An analysis module applies multiple linear regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an excess total return to shareholders. The analysis module also applies logistic regression analysis to a portion of the reduced transaction data set to identify key regression variables that correlate with an increased probability of regulatory agency approval. A report generator provides a graphical output of the identified key regression variables and a probability value corresponding to a likelihood of regulatory agency approval.

11-05-2009

20100318407

Personalized Coupon System - A personalized coupon system is disclosed. A localized offer list may be provided to a consumer including a plurality of offers from merchants in a location near the location of the consumer. The offers included in the offer list may be selected by the system based on progressive and regressive rules. When offers are redeemed, the system receives notification of offer redemption. The offer list and personalized electronic communications to the consumer may include offers based on prior activities of the consumer which are tracked by the system. The offer list and personalized electronic communications may include offers based on the activities of other consumers having similar geography and/or demographic information to the consumer. The activities may include viewing, selecting, obtaining, printing and redeeming offers from merchants. Behavior tracking information, maps and graphics may be provided to merchants so that they may understand the success of offers.

12-16-2010

20100318405

PRODUCT PLACEMENT FOR THE MASSES - Product-related information provided by brand owners is made available for inclusion in user-generated content. Users may include the product-related information in user-generated content, and receive payment for including the product-related information in their user-generated content based on metrics and rules for publishing the product-related information.

12-16-2010

20100324976

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROMOTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - A method and system for the online promotion of intellectual property includes providing an Internet host station with at least one database that is connectable via the Internet to consumer stations and industry stations. The database includes a plurality of intellectual property items and a description of each intellectual property item. At least one of the intellectual property items is selected by a consumer station and the description associated with the selected intellectual property item is viewed at the consumer station. Portions of the description may be confidential and therefore not normally viewed at the consumer station. Feedback data is sent from the consumer station to the host station. The feedback data includes consumer opinion information of the selected intellectual property item based at least in part on the description of the selected intellectual property item. The feedback data is then accessed from an industry station to thereby determine the interest in the selected intellectual property item based on the consumer opinion.

12-23-2010

20100169163

Multi-level fraud check with dynamic feedback for internet business transaction processor - An Internet business transaction processor of the present invention has a distributed processing architecture which allows the processing load to be distributed among multiple parallel servers. The transaction processor of the present invention provides a virtual store front utilizing “others people's warehouse” approach by using a dynamic distributor selection processing system to select among a plurality of distributors based on flexible rule-based algorithm.

07-01-2010

20090276290

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMIZING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS - The present invention is directed to a method for facilitating a real estate transaction comprising the steps of receiving at least one site performance criteria from at least one prospective buyer, receiving prospective site data regarding at least one prospective site from at least one prospective seller, calculating the value of at least one prospective site metric using the prospective site data wherein the at least one prospective site metric corresponds to at least one of the site performance criteria, evaluating the at least one prospective site metric using a predetermined set of filtering criteria, determining whether the at least one prospective site meets the site performance criteria based on the evaluation of the prospective site data and the at least one prospective site metric and displaying the degree to which the at least one prospective site meets the site performance criteria.

11-05-2009

20090276285

SEARCH ENGINE TO BROKER ADVERTISER WITH PUBLISHER - A method for brokering advertisers and publishers includes crawling internet websites to extract information from publisher websites including at least one of keywords, tags, images, digital media, or combinations thereof, collecting browser activity data as monitored from users browsing the websites; reverse indexing the publisher information in relation to corresponding browser activity data in a database according to a plurality of attributes included in the browser activity data; and enabling advertisers to keyword search the reversed indexed information through a search web server that is coupled with the database, wherein the search web server returns relevancy-based search results together with publisher information that enables the advertisers to contact the publishers regarding purchasing advertising inventory on publisher websites.

11-05-2009

20100262463

Systems, Methods, and Media for Management of a Survey Response Associated with a Score - A computer-implemented method for management of a survey response associated with a score is disclosed. Exemplary systems and methods include a processor, a computer readable storage medium having instructions for execution by the processor, and the processor executing the instructions on the computer readable storage medium to transmit a survey response associated with a score for display on a network device. If the score of the survey response is below a threshold, the processor transmits an issue report for display on the network device. The processor also transmits a calculated value for display on the network device, the calculated value based at least in part on the score associated with the survey response. In a further exemplary system and method, the processor transmits for display on the network device a quantity representing a number of survey responses that may have their associated score deducted from the calculated value. According to yet another exemplary system and method, the processor receives from the network device an assignment of an issue report to a party responsible for resolution of the issue report.

10-14-2010

20100169154

SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR PRODUCT SELECTION - A system and associated method is provided for assisting a customer in selecting products based on profile information of the customer. Profile information may be obtained directly from the user and from information collected on the customer's mobile device. The profile information can be used to send the customer customized product proposals.

07-01-2010

20100185487

AUTOMATIC COLLECTION AND CORRELATION OF RETAIL METRICS - The invention provides a method, system, and program product for collecting and correlating retail metrics. In one embodiment, the invention includes providing a spatial representation of a retail space containing a plurality of products, automatically collecting data representing movement of at least one customer within the retail space, obtaining data related to products purchased by the at least one customer, and transforming the movement data and the purchasing data into correlation data representing temporal, spatial, and purchasing metrics within the retail space.

07-22-2010

20100185496

DYNAMIC MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Provided herein are systems and methods for providing access to marketing data via a reduced-complexity marketer GUI for dynamically defining market segments for use in marketing campaigns.

07-22-2010

20100185485

ALLOCATION OF INTERNET ADVERTISING INVENTORY - A method and system for allocating inventory in an Internet environment is provided. A method employed by the system may include generating samples of representatives that represent impression inventory, where each sample represents a number of users to which impressions are deliverable. An order may be received. The order may include a number of impressions to book and target audience information. A cushion of impressions needed to guarantee delivery of the number of impressions ordered may be determined. The number of impressions ordered plus the cushion may be allocated from the samples. A contract including the target audience information, the number of impressions, and the cushion may be stored to a database.

07-22-2010

20090299819

Behavioral Trust Rating Filtering System - An improved rating system allows users to give anonymous ratings of any item such as devices, compositions and services including personal services (i.e., individuals). The system is based on degrees of behavioral similarity between raters. The highest degree of behavioral similarity is established between raters who have rated the same item identically or similarly. The system allows a user to view ratings or anonymous raters who have a high degree of behavioral similarity to the user. The system allows users to control the various ‘degrees’ or levels of behavioral linkage to gather meaningful data in a way that greatly extends the potential usefulness and applicability of the rating filtering system while preserving the anonymity of raters and their individual ratings.

12-03-2009

20100250341

DIGITAL CONTENT PERSONALIZATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A system and method for predicting what content a user wants to view based on such user's previous behavior and actions, comprising: receiving a cookie for every content page template in a web site; receiving a request for service of a content page; sending the content requested to a requester; for each content page sent, retrieving the cookie from the user; assigning a unique identifier (ID) to each new requester and storing the ID in the cookie; recording each ID, IP address, referrer, and time of request from the server; and storing the data recorded in a buffer for a period of time before storing it more permanently in a client-specific database. The system can be monetized by receiving fees from end users for presenting the content preferences or by receiving fees form content providers that include advertising related to the content preferences.

09-30-2010

20100250323

System and method for dynamically updating a transport structure in an electronic network - A system for implementing an information distribution network includes an information service that is configured to provide information distribution services through the information distribution network. User devices are utilized by device users to communicate with the information service for receiving the information distribution services. Transport structures are implemented for communicating with various network entities in the information distribution network. The transport structures collect appropriate metadata for providing selected information from the information service to targeted ones of the device users. The metadata in the transport structures is dynamically updatable to accurately represent the network entities in the information distribution network.

09-30-2010

20100235226

System to Quantify Consumer Preferences - A system to determine preference information of part worth values associated with a consumer and a product includes determination of a plurality of attributes of the product, each of the plurality of attributes associated with a plurality of attribute levels, determination of a plurality of piles of attributes based on a first indication of the consumer, each of the plurality of piles comprising one or more of the plurality of attributes, determination of a ranked order of a plurality of attributes of one of the plurality of piles, determination of a relative importance of one or more of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a second indication of the consumer, determination of a scale value of one or more attribute levels of the one or more of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a third indication of the consumer, and determination of a part worth value associated with an attribute level of one of the plurality of attributes of the one of the plurality of piles based on a determined scale value of the attribute level and a determined relative importance of the one of the plurality of attributes.

09-16-2010

20100280879

GIFT INCENTIVE ENGINE - A system and method to facilitate efficient gift giving is disclosed herein. Gift giver, gift recipient, advertisers/sponsors, and third party service providers participate in providing input at the gift evaluation, selection, purchase, delivery, and consumption stages to increase the likelihood of the gift recipient's satisfaction and consumption of the gift. The interactive environment facilitates opaque gathering of information from the relevant parties relative to each other.

11-04-2010

20100145764

Method and apparatus for improving efficiency in event information exchange among parties of event - A method and apparatus for improving efficiency and accuracy in event information exchange among users of navigation systems or other devices through wireless communication. The method includes the steps of: receiving information indicating an upcoming event, an event location, and participants thereof input by a user; checking a database storing data regarding types of event in response to the information input by the user to determine a type of the event; retrieving information regarding items required for the type of event determined and generating a template including a list of what items to bring by the participants of the event; and sending the template to the participants of the event through wireless communication.

06-10-2010

20100217647

DETERMINING SHARE OF VOICE - An example embodiment disclosed herein is directed to an apparatus, comprising a communication interface configured to communicate over an associated network, and share of voice analysis logic operable to send and receive data via the communication interface. The share of voice analysis logic is operable to communicate with a device providing advertising coupled to the associated network. The share of voice analysis logic is operable to provide data representative of a targeted profile to the device providing advertising and to receive data representative of at least one advertisement from the device providing the advertising. The share of voice analysis logic is responsive to receiving the data representative of at least one advertisement to analyze the data representative of at least one advertisement to determine a share of voice for at least one advertiser.

08-26-2010

20100223107

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING XML SYNDICATION FEEDS INTO ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT - A system for providing XML syndication content to an Internet advertisement panel rendered in a web browser is disclosed. The system includes a web content server, an Internet advertisement server, and a XML syndication content feed site server. Both the web content server and the Internet advertisement servers are in communications with the web browser. The web content server is configured to respond to requests from the web browser for a web page and to deliver the web page to the web browser. The Internet advertisement server is configured to choose and deliver an Internet advertisement panel, having embedded XML syndication content, to the web browser. The XML syndication content feed site server is in communications with the Internet advertisement server and is configured to send XML syndication content updates to the Internet advertisement server.

09-02-2010

20100223097

METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO CONTACTS WITHOUT BEING GIVEN CONTACT DATA - The subject invention provides an information source, such as an advertiser or product vendor, with a method for transferring information to contacts for which the information source has no contact data. The information source stores information in an information database which communicates the information to a referrer which has the desired contact data. The referrer uses a communication device to transfer the information to one or more contacts using contact data.

09-02-2010

20100223092

Information Processing Device and Information Processing Program To Be Used In the Device - Provided are an information processing device capable of utilizing a plurality of pieces of data having correlations, more effectively, and an information processing program to be used in the device. The information processing device processes information with a plurality of pieces of data stored in advance. The information processing device comprises storage means for storing the correlated pieces of data together with related information, data processing means for processing the pieces of data on the basis of the related information, and storage control means for storing the storage means newly with the data processed by the data processing means, together with the processed contents of the data as the related information.

09-02-2010

20100223093

System and method for intelligently monitoring subscriber's response to multimedia content - A system for monitoring a subscriber's behavior. The novel system includes a first sub-system for obtaining a subscriber's responses to multimedia content previously delivered to the subscriber's device and a second sub-system for modifying a profile on the subscriber based on these responses. In an illustrative embodiment, the profile includes data on the subscriber's personal preferences on a plurality of categories, and the second sub-system includes a neural network artificial intelligence engine adapted to automatically refine the personal preferences based on the responses to previous content. The first sub-system includes an applet stored in and executed by the subscriber's device that records the subscriber's responses and actions in a data file and transmits the data file to the second sub-system. The second sub-system receives the recorded responses and actions from the applet and updates the subscriber's profile accordingly.

09-02-2010

20100268576

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENDING DATA TO END USER DATA DELIVERY VEHICLES - An embodiment of a method is disclosed, including but not limited to, dividing a reward token in a reward token data base into a plurality of reward token pieces based on a selection of plurality of end user data delivery vehicles on which an advertiser wants to send the reward token pieces to an end user; sensing end user activity on a communication network on at least one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles at one of a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers; sending from a first one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a first one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a first one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles; and sending from a second one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a second one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a second one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles. A computer program product and system for performing the method are also disclosed.

10-21-2010

20100217649

METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR FILTERING OF FINANCIAL ADVERTISING - An exemplary embodiment of a method for filtering financial advertising may include receiving advertising groupings from a financial institution, where the groupings include a group identifier and one or more advertisements; receiving identity information from a credit consumer and providing the identity to a credit bureau; the credit bureau retrieves consumer credit history including consumer credit attributes; receiving a list of group identifiers from the credit bureau, where the list is generated by the credit bureau for each of the advertising groupings by adding the group identifier to the list if the credit consumer credit attributes satisfy a group financial criteria provided to the credit bureau by the financial institution; identifying the financial advertisements from the advertising grouping, where the group identifier for the advertising grouping corresponds to the group identifier from the list of from the credit bureau; and providing the financial advertisement to the consumer.

08-26-2010

20100217648

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTIFYING USER INTERACTIONS WITH WEB ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods and systems are provided that may be used to determine a probability of whether a visitor to a web document is likely to click on a web advertisement. An exemplary method may include detecting one or more features in a web document. One or more expert statistical models to which the web document belongs may be determined and associated weightings may be determined based, at least in part, on the one or more features detected. A click-through-rate probability for a web advertisement to be placed on the web document may be estimated based on the one or more expert statistical models.

08-26-2010

20100223106

Wholesale Virtual Inventory and Retail Lead Generation - Embodiments are described herein including systems and methods for presenting vehicles available for wholesale purchase to retail consumers in order to generate a retail “lead” on a specific vehicle prior to acquisition of that vehicle by a dealer. The electronic lead, once generated, is made available to a licensed dealer before the dealer acquires the inventory corresponding to the lead. In contrast to known lead generation models, the lead is created on a specific vehicle that a retail dealer has the ability to purchase, but has not yet taken into inventory.

09-02-2010

20100217651

System and method for managing energy resources based on a scoring system - A method for managing energy resources, comprising the steps of collecting energy-related data in an event database from a plurality of network-connected iNodes, using a network-connected statistics server to compute a reliability rating for a plurality of users based at least in part on the data collected from iNodes associated with the users, using the reliability ratings at least to select a subset of users for inclusion in a derivative energy security, computing an expected performance profile and reliability rating for the derivative energy security, and making the derivative security available on a digital exchange, is disclosed.

08-26-2010

20100223104

DEAL ANALYSIS WORKBENCH FOR A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT - The present invention provides a method, system and computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for facilitating consistent application of price polices on every sales transaction supported through a customer relationship management system, in order to identify price exceptions in violation of stated corporate pricing objectives. Having such capabilities coupled with a customer relationship management system enables embodiments of the present invention to reduce the time to identify and evaluate price exceptions that impact revenue and margin. Agents responsible for sales interaction with customers can immediately identify violations of price policies. Those responsible for authorizing exceptions can easily determine the effect of those exceptions upon impacted markets.

09-02-2010

20100223096

Subsidized Mobile Device Usage - Apparatus and methods for wireless systems provide advertisements to mobile wireless devices to receive a benefit (e.g. service subsidization). In an embodiment, a wireless server manages the operation of a group of mobile wireless devices sharing a least one common criterion to provide wireless services of at least one network provider. At least one policy is maintained by the server for managing the operations. Administration parameters for a advertisement policy are configured for determining whether to provide an advertisement to a respective one of the group of mobile wireless devices to obtain the benefit. Usage of the wireless services is monitored and advertisements provided, in response to the monitoring and the policy, by the server to the group for presentation to respective users. A signal may be generated to advise the benefit provider of the provision of an advertisement. A mobile wireless device is provided for presenting the advertisements.

09-02-2010

20100223095

Pushed Ringtones Based on Device-Side Content - A ringtone service distributes selected ringtones to respective communication devices in a communication network. A particular ringtone for a respective communication device is selected is in accordance with at least one recommendation operation and ringtone selector data. The selector data is generated from user data associated with the particular communication device from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting how a user will like a particular ringtone. A media purchase link, provided with the ringtone, assists with the purchase of an associated media file from a media purchase service. A ringtone may comprise a sample from a source (e.g. an audio or video recording) and the associated medial file may comprise a copy of the source.

09-02-2010

20100268575

PROCESSING AND DISPLAY OF SERVICE PROVIDER PERFORMANCE DATA - Disclosed are computing systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for processing and displaying service provider performance data. In insurance and related industries, service providers perform assignments such as repairing smoke or water damage. Assignments may be performed pursuant to a service level agreement (SLA) between a provider and an insurance company. Service provider performance data reflects how well service providers perform their assigned tasks, and may contain subjective or qualitative values. Service provider performance data is stored in computer-readable storage media and is accessed by a computing system. The computing system selects a number of performance criteria to analyze, such as quality of service criterion, cycle time, and customer satisfaction. The computing system aggregates performance data related to the selected criteria and generates quantitative values from subjective or qualitative values. The computing system generates a vendor quality index (VQI) based on the quantified data. The generated quantitative values and VQI may be rendered on a display device or printed on a printer to facilitate objective comparisons between different service providers. Based on the generated quantitative values and VQI, the computing system may adjust parameters that affect how the VQI is determined, initiate electronic debits or credits to accounts corresponding to service providers, and/or generate user alerts.

10-21-2010

20100324973

Dynamic Webpage Generation Including Request-Time Auctioned Web Content - Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems associated with providing request-time auctioning of web content and web services. The auction may be performed by a request-time web content auctioning service, which may accept bids of content and/or services from content and/or service providers, and may auction these bids against offers of space on webpages in websites. The auction may, in various embodiments, be performed in real time, such as, for example, during generation of a webpage in response to a request to view a webpage from a visitor to the webpage. The auction service may, in various embodiments, also provide for the auctioning of web services for webpages, such as, for example, content filtering. Other embodiments may be described and claimed

12-23-2010

20090327027

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TRANSFORMING LOGISTIC VARIABLES INTO NUMERICAL VALUES FOR USE IN DEMAND CHAIN FORECASTING - An improved method for forecasting and modeling product demand. The forecasting methodology employs a multivariable regression model to model the causal relationship between product demand and the attributes of past promotional activities. This improved forecasting methodology enhances the applicability of regression models when dealing with logistic variables. It provides a novel technique to transform such variables into numerical values, resulting in more accurate and more efficient regression models. Furthermore, the reduction in the number of variables improves the stability and predictive power of the regression models.

12-31-2009

20100211434

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING SALES LEAD INFORMATION AND USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING THE SAME - A system and method for generating sales lead information and user interface for displaying the same. The method includes receiving a request for sales lead information corresponding to a time slot in a displayed user interface calendar and based on selection of a selection element in the time slot of the user interface calendar and associating the time slot with time slot criteria for searching for groups, wherein information relating to the groups is stored in database. The method further includes determining at least one group satisfying the time slot criteria and generating sales lead information relating to the at least one group.

08-19-2010

20100287027

System and method for distributing coupon information in an electronic network - A system and method for distributing coupon information in an electronic network includes an information service that is configured to provide information distribution services through said information distribution network. User devices are provided for device users to communicate with the information service for receiving the information distribution services. A transport structure communicates with network entities in the information distribution network for collecting appropriate types of metadata. A transport server then performs a metadata analysis procedure upon the various types of metadata to responsively generate the coupon information.

DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR UPDATING A USER PROFILE - A device is provided for updating a user profile stored in a memory accessible to the device. The device includes a display screen for displaying a graphical user interface representing a product page showing a plurality of descriptors. The device is such that each of at least some of the plurality of descriptors of the viewed product page is associated with an interest indicator linked to the user profile and represented on the graphical user interface by an illustration. The device includes a user interface for selecting an illustration representing an interest indicator for a descriptor from the product page and for selecting an illustration from a set of illustrations representing different levels of interest. The level of interest corresponds to the selected illustration being stored for updating the user profile. Also, methods are provided for updating a user profile and providing product recommendations using such a profile.

11-18-2010

20100169158

SQUASHED MATRIX FACTORIZATION FOR MODELING INCOMPLETE DYADIC DATA - A method of predicting a response relationship between elements of two sets includes: specifying a dyadic response matrix; specifying covariates that measure additional dyadic relationships; specifying a number of row clusters and a number of column clusters for clustering the rows and columns of the response matrix; specifying a rank for cluster factors that model average interactions between row clusters and column clusters by products of cluster factors; and determining prediction parameters for predicting responses between elements of the first set and the second set by improving a likelihood value that relates the prediction parameters to the response matrix, the covariates, the observation weights, the row clusters and the column clusters. Determining the prediction parameters includes: updating the prediction parameters for fixed assignments of row clusters and column clusters, and updating assignments for row clusters and column clusters for fixed prediction parameters.

07-01-2010

20090287547

SALES BENCHMARKING AND COACHING TOOL - A machine- or computer-implemented sales coaching tool and methodology provide a method for a user to evaluate a sales or marketing opportunity of interest. The sales coaching tool, method, and system are configured to present users with one or more questions related to one or more marketing conditions, receive a user response to the questions, process the received responses, and provide an advice package based on the responses. The advice package may include coaching advice and/or a benchmark of where the user may have strengths or vulnerabilities with respect to an opportunity of interest.

11-19-2009

20090287544

Customer managed restaurant information system - A restaurant information system includes a point-of-sale (POS) device constructed and arranged for identifying a customer at a restaurant, an amount owed for food or other items purchased at the restaurant, a financial services provider, and a restaurant customer service of which the customer is a member. A network server is associated with the restaurant customer service, and is configured to access a personal customer file created by the customer. The POS device is configured to prompt and receive a customer entry including a review or other comments concerning the restaurant, and to address the customer entry to the second network server for writing in the customer's personal file. The network server may also be configured to compile a searchable database reflecting customer entries made in a number of different customer files.

11-19-2009

20090287546

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORGANIZING HOTEL-RELATED DATA - A method for grouping hotels for a travel entity may include identifying a plurality of hotels stayed at in the past by members of a travel entity, identifying a subset of hotels having a particular significance to the travel entity, each hotel being associated with a position indicator, clustering hotels in the subset of hotels using a clustering algorithm, where the position indicator for each hotel serves as the basis for calculating a geographical similarity measure for the clustering algorithm, identifying hotels not used by the travel entity but that are within the boundaries of the clusters, and optionally displaying a visual depiction of a cluster of hotels.

11-19-2009

20090287538

System And Method For Determining Trailing Data Adjustment Factors - Timely projections of product sales for a reporting time period are obtained by combining actual sales data received from reporting stores and estimated sales data for non-reporting stores. The projections are adjusted to account for trailing data, which may be reported after the end of the subject time period.

11-19-2009

20090287537

Dynamic bidding and ranking system - The present invention relates to certain bidding and ranking systems, which may be used to rank objects in a computing environment, such as, for example, bidding and ranking systems that may be used to rank on-line advertisements. According to certain embodiments of the invention, such methods of ranking objects comprise receiving input values from a plurality of users. Each input value is preferably correlated with an object during a defined time interval, and each object is associated with a single user. The method further comprises calculating a sum of the input values associated with each object at defined time points, and then ranking each object, at each time point, based on the sum of the input values associated with each object.

11-19-2009

20090287535

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING DATA - In one embodiment, the method comprises operating one or more commercial appliances and establishing an event count each time a preparation event is carried out in the commercial appliance. The method further comprises communicating each event count to a database and maintaining event count information at the database. The method further comprises operating one or more point of sale interfaces for processing customer orders and communicating customer order information to a database and maintaining customer order information at the database. The method then comprises generating operating reports, the operating reports being based on the event count information and/or customer order information.

11-19-2009

20090248485

Communications Propensity Index - A method of analyzing the effectiveness of marketing activities involves taking a series of surveys that incorporate such factors as the purchase process cycle stages, organization size, respondent job responsibilities, the products offered, and brands involved. The data from the marketing surveys is compiled. A user enters a specific query directed at the data, and the method of the invention is used to present graph of the data results to the user, the graph having a vertical and two horizontal axes. Marketing vehicles are listed on the vertical axis of the graph. On one horizontal axis, a percentage impact awareness score is provided for each marketing vehicle for the selected query, as well as an overall average percentage impact awareness score for all of the marketing vehicles. The other, opposing horizontal axis displays a brand propensity index for each marketing vehicle, as well as an overall average brand propensity index. The user may compare the percentage impact awareness of each marketing vehicle to the brand propensity index for each marketing vehicle to determine the effectiveness of each marketing vehicle for a brand in question as opposed to the effectiveness of each marketing vehicle across all brands for the selected market filtration.

10-01-2009

20090292592

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME REPORTING OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ACTIVITY - A method and apparatus is disclosed for tracking and reporting electronic commerce activity over a web site that is stored on a first server coupled to a wide area network. The web page is programmed to include data fields reflecting commerce transaction activity and data mining code. The web page is uploaded to a visitor computer responsive to a request over the wide area network from the visitor computer. Commerce information is accepted within the data fields of the web page at the visitor computer to form a completed web page. The data mining code is operated on the visitor computer to obtain technical and commercial data and sent to a second server on the wide area network for logging and analysis.

11-26-2009

20090292590

METHOD FOR EVALUATING AN EMPLOYEE - A method for evaluating an employee. The method for evaluating an employee can include the steps of communicating with a processor. The processor can be in communication with a database. The database can have at least one fillable employee evaluation template with at least eight non-industry specific categories. The method can also include creating at least one department using a client device in communication with the processor and storing the at least one department in the database.

11-26-2009

20090292589

Systems and Methods for Sales Tracking, Accountability, and Reporting - A system for tracking and managing sales performance of producers within an insurance agency. The system includes a database housing sales information for the agency, a sales management server interfacing with the database, a display device connected to the sales management server, a user interface module running on the sales management server and being configured to receive input from a user and to display content from the database on the display device, and an interactive sales pipeline module forming part of the user interface module. The interactive sale pipeline module is configured to receive input from a user and store the information in the database and to display a grid of sales process information including information regarding an initial appointment stage, a marketing submission stage, and a proposal delivery stage.

METHOD FOR ONLINE SELLING AND MANAGING UNITEDLY BY FRANCHISE'S PARTICIPATION OF PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY - In a hot chamber die casting apparatus of pressurizing molten magnesium alloy at an atmospheric pressure or higher without being exposed to the atmosphere and forming a magnesium alloy casting product in the shape of a mold, the hot chamber die casting apparatus basically configured with a melting furnace having a heater, a pressure unit configured to pressurize the molten magnesium alloy, and a mold configured to shape a product, and includes an electromagnetic stirrer disposed around a nozzle between a pressure chamber and the mold, and configured to stir semisolid magnesium alloy, the pressure chamber being connected to the melting furnace and supplying magnesium alloy in liquid state, wherein an inner diameter of the nozzle is partially or wholly smaller than that of the pressure chamber so as to crush solid phases existing in the semisolid magnesium alloy in the pressure chamber or the nozzle.

11-26-2009

20090292584

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTEXT AND COMMUNITY BASED CUSTOMIZATION FOR A USER EXPERIENCE - A system and method for context and community based customization for a user experience is disclosed. The apparatus in an example embodiment includes a user experience customizer to gather context information, automatically produce user experience customization selections based on the context information, collect user activity feedback from a community of users, and use the user activity feedback to adjust the user experience customizer to automatically produce user experience customization selections likely favored by a user based on a correlation of the user activity feedback with the context information.

11-26-2009

20090292582

SERVICEABILITY SCORING MODEL - A system and method relate to generating overall and/or relative serviceability scores for products. The system and method may include (1) adjusting a serviceability scoring model according to a product specific service model and (2) rating serviceability requirements. The adjustment of the scoring model may include (a) weighting serviceability aspects according to the product specific service strategy and/or (b) correlating the weighted serviceability aspects to key performance indicators to generate weighted key performance indicators. The rating of the serviceability requirements may include correlating the weighted key performance indicators to selected and/or weighted serviceability requirements. Each serviceability requirement selected may have a specified level of serviceability to be realized. An overall serviceability score may then be calculated. The score may be adjusted in relation to preceding or competing products. Overall serviceability scores may facilitate engineering and product management decisions, product design/development, and potential customers making more informed business decisions.

11-26-2009

20090292583

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER CHURN - A method and apparatus for predicting customer churn from an organization. The method and apparatus determine an interaction churn score based on analyzing an interaction between the customer and the organization and related data. Optionally, the method and apparatus determine also a transactional churn score based on additional data related to the customer or the organization, and a combined churn score based on the interaction churn score and the transactional churn score. The interaction churn score is determined by assessing a categorization score for the interaction in association with one or more categories, and combining the categorization scores. Of further use is a retention offer mechanism for making a retention offer to the customer.

11-26-2009

20100036709

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MEASURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH PURCHASED VEHICLE - A method of measuring customer satisfaction with a product. The method may assess customer satisfaction from information collected after purchasing the product. This post-purchase information may be collected, for example, by monitoring customer expressions made while interacting with the product. Optionally, the settings and operating conditions of the product may be separately monitored and cross-referenced with the customer expressions to tie the expressions with specific characteristics of the product.

02-11-2010

20100274627

RECEIVING AN ANNOUNCEMENT TRIGGERED BY LOCATION DATA - An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

10-28-2010

20090327035

MEDIA CONTENT SERVICE FOR RENTING JUKEBOXES AND PLAYLISTS ADAPTED FOR PERSONAL MEDIA PLAYERS - An online media content service is adapted for use with a personal media player to provide targeted content to the player on a rental basis and is architected to enable users to access music using new models.. The targeted media content includes content that has special context or meaning to a user of the service by virtue, for example, of either being organized into a collection that appeals to the user, or by being related to the user through the user's social graph. In the first case, the targeted media content may illustratively include a set of media that has been selected to fulfill a theme or genre, and is made available to a user as a package to access and play for a limited period of time for a rental fee. In the second case, the targeted media content may illustratively include a collection of songs that are drawn from playlists of people that the service knows to be friends of the user and provided on a subscription basis.

12-31-2009

20100191574

Maximizing Content and Advertiser Impressions Using a Single Common Identifier - System and method for displaying a content piece together with its sponsor's advertisement in a web page is provided. For each of a plurality of content pieces, assign a unique content identifier and associate a category identifier that indicates to which one of the plurality of categories the content piece belongs. An advertiser may sponsor individual content pieces or an entire category of content pieces. The content identifier of the content piece or the category identifier of the category that the advertiser sponsors is associated with the advertiser. Each time one of the plurality of content pieces is included in a web page, if the content piece is sponsored by an advertiser or if the category to which the content piece belongs is sponsored by an advertiser, then the content piece is positioned in the web page together with an advertisement associated with the advertiser.

07-29-2010

20100293038

INFORMATION TRADING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method of collecting and trading statistical information between users is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the information is traded via a network, such as the Internet. The method for trading information includes the step of collecting information from a user at a first location, having a confidential data portion and an exchange data portion. Only the exchange data portion is transmitted to a central location. An exchanged data set is defined at the central location. The exchange data set is updated using the exchange data portion. An output data set is determined from the exchange data set, wherein the output data set is accessible by one or more users.

11-18-2010

20100262460

Operating An Electronic Advertising Device - Operating an electronic advertising device, the electronic advertising device disposed within camera range of consumer products exhibited for sale, the electronic advertising device including a computer processor, computer memory, a display, and a digital camera; the camera characterized by a camera range; the electronic advertising device operatively coupled to data storage containing digital reference images of at least some of the consumer products exhibited for sale, data storage containing rules for displaying advertising content for the consumer products exhibited for sale, and data storage containing the advertising content for the consumer products exhibited for sale; including: identifying, by the electronic advertising device through the camera and the digital reference images, consumer products within camera range of the electronic advertising device; and displaying, by the electronic advertising device in accordance with the rules, advertising content for the identified consumer products.

10-14-2010

20090327040

Systems and methods for identifying business opportunities - Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying a business opportunity in a target market. In one embodiment, a business may implement a method to define a target market based on one or more business characteristics. The method may include receiving a first set of company data for companies associated with the target market and building an industry profile associated with the target market based on the first set of company data. The method may also include generating a second set of company data based on the industry profile, the second set of company data reflecting the business opportunity in the target market. The method may further include summarizing the first set and the second set of company data based on the business characteristics associated with the target market, and presenting the business opportunity in the target market based on the one or more business characteristics.

12-31-2009

20090327032

QUALITY BASED PRICING AND RANKING FOR ONLINE ADS - A “Quality-Based Ad Pricer” prices ads as a function of how users respond to a particular page and/or domain to which they are sent by an online advertisement. User experience is improved by ensuring that advertisements that are more relevant to a user are priced less than an ads which are less relevant to the user. In particular, a quality factor for each ad is determined as a property of the advertiser's site based on measured user behaviors with respect to that site. This quality factor is then used in ranking, selecting, and pricing ads in an automated online auction. Further, while ad aggregators are not excluded from the ad market by the pricing rules of the Quality-Based Ad Pricer, these rules ensure that there is a “level playing field” such that ads of merchants are not excluded by the ads of ad aggregators.

12-31-2009

20090319330

TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING RECOMMENDATION SYSTEMS - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for calculating and evaluating the behavior of recommendation systems. Accuracy measures are computed for a plurality of items in a real recommendation system, an ideal recommendation system, and a popularity-based baseline recommendation system. The accuracy measures for the plurality of items are presented to a user so the user can evaluate a performance of the real recommendation system in comparison to the ideal recommendation system and the popularity-based baseline recommendation system. The accuracy measures can be presented in an interactive graph.

12-24-2009

20100223105

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTENT TARGETING ONE USER GROUP BASED ON BEHAVIORAL PROFILING OF ANOTHER USER GROUP - A system and method for selecting an accompanying content, such as an advertisement, for presentation with a main content, such as a web page is described. The system and method provide a profile of the main content that is used when selecting the accompanying content. The main content profile may be used to select the accompanying content when the main content is requested by a user for which little or no profile information is available. The main content profile is based on the content consumption history of a group of users for which profile information is available.

09-02-2010

20100223102

ENHANCED SHOPPING & MERCHANDISING METHODOLOGY - An enhanced shopping system for facilitating grocery shopping and in-store advertising is disclosed. The system utilizes uniquely changes (1) the way grocery retail industry captures and retains customers, (2) how customers organize their shopping efforts in grocery stores, (3) the approach to advertising and reaching customers, and (4) the information available to retailers and merchandisers related to customer (a) shopping patterns, (b) responses to merchandising and advertising, and (c) specific impact of discounting/coupons.

09-02-2010

20100223103

DEAL MANAGEMENT IN A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT - The present invention provides a method, system and computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for facilitating consistent application of price polices on every sales transaction supported through a customer relationship management system, in order to identify price exceptions in violation of stated corporate pricing objectives. Having such capabilities coupled with a customer relationship management system enables embodiments of the present invention to reduce the time to identify and evaluate price exceptions that impact revenue and margin. Agents responsible for sales interaction with customers can immediately identify violations of price policies. Those responsible for authorizing exceptions can easily determine the effect of those exceptions upon impacted markets.

09-02-2010

20100223099

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL OFFER OPTIMIZATION (MDOO) - A Multi-Dimensional Offer Optimization™ (MDOO) process is provided that may be defined generally as an offer simulation engine that matches an offer most likely to be accepted to the customer most likely to accept it. In general terms, the present offer simulation engine is defined as a form of predictive analytics used to make informed decisions about how to best spend scarce marketing dollars. Predictive analytics encompasses a variety of techniques from analytical statistics to traditional data mining that examines current and historical data to make predictions about future events. More specifically, the MDOO process uses predictive analytics to make decisions concerning customer optimization to include, by way of example, new customer acquisition, customer loyalty, customer retention and customer profitability.

09-02-2010

20100223101

SUSTAINABILITY CAPITAL PLANNING TOOL - A method of sustainability capital planning includes a first phase, a second phase, a third phase and a fourth phase. The first phase may include performing a business and environmental strategy analysis. The second phase may include performing a high level site and facility assessment. The third phase may include performing a strategic facility mapping process. The fourth phase may include performing a strategic facility planning process.

09-02-2010

20100223094

Verification of Advertisement Presentation - The presentation of advertisements via a communication device is verified using biosensor or biometric analysis to confirm that a user is present during the presentation. During and preferably at multiple times throughout the presentation, instances of biosensor or biometric input are received to determine a verification result. The biosensor or biometric input is determined from a measure of at least one human biological or physiological change or process or a human anatomical or physical characteristic of a user of the communication device. The verification may be useful to measure an effectiveness of the advertisement or to determine a benefit such as a subsidization of charges within a service plan for wireless or other communication devices.

09-02-2010

20100241488

Educational website - The educational website is a web-driven social network that aggregates content from other sites, the content being of interest to a niche category of users. The website registers site users while collecting demographic and geographic information associated with each user. Customized user permissions over the website are allocated based on the demographic and geographic information collected. The website serves the aggregated content on at least one web page accessible to a user's display device. Advertising is delivered to the users based on the user demographic information, geographic information and permissions. In one particular embodiment, the website aggregates news items. Students and teachers are registered. The website accepts student posted comments and reviews about the news items. Advertising is targeted to the students and teachers based on their demographic and geographic information. Advertisements can be categorized as display or print and delivered to the users accordingly.

09-23-2010

20100241487

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEPOSIT PREDICTIONS BASED UPON TEMPLATE MATCHING - Systems and methods may be provided for deposit prediction based upon template matching. The system and methods may include receiving deposit information associated with a plurality of deposits for a deposit account of a financial institution customer, where the deposit information includes a plurality of deposit amounts, and a respective date associated with each of the plurality deposit amounts; identifying, based upon the received deposit information, one or more deposit patterns by applying one or more template patterns to the deposit information and determining that one or more of the applied template patterns match at least a portion of the deposit information; and generating an indication of the identified one or more deposit patterns.

09-23-2010

20100299184

MINING OF DISTRIBUTED SCIENTIFIC DATA FOR ENRICHED PRODUCT/CONTACT VALUATION - Methods and systems are described that detail the rapid validation of scientific products and scientist consumer information derived from multiple science/research based sources, such as peer-reviewed scientific publications and online resources, for example, as well as any other available tasked forum or venue. The refined information will facilitate unique product evaluation opportunities via an accessible website/forum, trade shows, etc., and provide previously unknowable sales leads, market intelligence, and targeted advertising opportunities for life science product manufacturers.

Method and System of Applying Environmental Incentives - Information relating to electrical energy usage for a given account is associated with a time segment that corresponds to a period when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. Electrical energy generation carbon impact information is retrieved for the corresponding time segment specifying when the electrical energy was received from an electrical energy distribution system. A carbon credit is calculated according to the retrieved electrical energy generation carbon impact information, and the retrieved electrical energy usage information associated with the time segment. The calculated carbon credit is then used to update a display of carbon credit related information, such as account balance, rate of carbon credit usage, currently applicable “cost” for carbon credit usage. Notifications can be provided to the consumer if any of this information crosses a threshold value. In addition, or alternatively, the carbon credit related information can be used to automatically control the operation of devices that consume electrical energy.

09-09-2010

20100235224

Device and method for creating, distributing, managing and monetizing widgets - The present invention relates to a widget, and to exemplary methods of creating, maintaining, monetizing and reporting the widget and its underlying architecture. The present invention provides for the creation of a widget and may allow for the incorporation of content which may be further transported or distributed using the created widget. A widget may also be tracked and may have attributes sounding its movement, usage and content merged into analytics associated with that widget. The associates analytics may further be used to monetize the interactions associated with the widget to generate revenue.

09-16-2010

20100318406

Quantitative Branding Analysis - A method and system for analysis and evaluation of branding of commercial products embedded in entertainment programming. The entertainment programming may be divided into blocks that are compared to several rule sets defining audio visual and other attributes of the commercial products to evaluate parameters such as recall of the product by viewers.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYBACK OF AN ELECTRONIC FILE - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

08-19-2010

20100211435

Package Review Process Mentorship System - A method and apparatus for an automated software package review process mentorship system. The package review system receives proposed package from programmers to be reviewed before inclusion in a software project or collection. This system can also be used for the review and analysis of other types of projects. The system includes a package management module that works in conjunction with a review management module to automatically assign the received packages to reviewers that have the appropriate skills and availability to review the type of packages that have been submitted. If the reviewer does not complete the review within a specified time period, then the package can be automatically reassigned. In addition, the package reviewer is given an interface for providing feedback to the package submitter that simplifies the task of the reviewer by providing a set of predefined responses.

08-19-2010

20100223098

Method and Apparatus for Providing Services to Client Groups in a Communication Network - A method and apparatus for offering or providing a service to multiple clients in a communication network. A service provisioning unit creates a group profile with common characteristics for a group of clients, e.g. based on user profiles stored in a profile database. A service is then composed that is adapted to the group profile and relevant for the common characteristics in the group profile. A service trigger condition is also defined for the adapted service which controls when the service is to be offered or provided. The service provisioning unit finally offers or provides the adapted service to the client group when it is detected that the service trigger condition is fulfilled.

09-02-2010

20100228590

CONTEXT-AWARE ELECTRONIC SOCIAL NETWORKING - A computer-implemented method for performing context-aware social networking within an electronic social network is provided. The method includes dynamically obtaining context information corresponding to at least one of past, present and future events associated with each user of a plurality of users within the electronic social network, storing the obtained context information, defining one or more context patterns of interest using the stored context information, and detecting a context pattern of interest from the one or more context patterns of interest for a first user of the plurality of users and formulating one or more recommendations or executing user-defined actions or predefined actions by the electronic social network for the first user using the detected context pattern of interest and the context information of at least a second user of the plurality of users.

09-09-2010

20100274625

TARGETING MERCHANT ANNOUNCEMENTS TRIGGERED BY CONSUMER ACTIVITY RELATIVE TO A SURROGATE MERCHANT - An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

10-28-2010

20090259522

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR GENERATING QUANTITATIVE PRICING POWER AND RISK SCORES - The present invention relates to a quantitative pricing power and pricing risk score generator and methods therefore, useful in association with an integrated price management system. Such a system may include a segment generator, a segment pricing power analyzer, and a segment pricing risk analyzer. The segment generator may receive or generate segments associated with a customer. Segment generation uses transaction level data which includes product attribute information, market data, and transaction history data. The segment pricing power analyzer and risk analyzer identify pricing power and risk factors, and assign raw scores to each factor, generates a weight for each raw score for each of the pricing power factors, and generates the quantitative pricing power and risk scores for each segment by computing a weighted average of the factors using the generated weights for each of the raw scores. Weights may be assigned according to default values or may be generated via an optimization.

10-15-2009

20100042478

Providing Services From A Remote Computer System To A User Station Over A Communications Network - Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing services from a remote computer system to a user station over a communications network, including automated identification of users. During a first communication session between a user station and a remote computer system, the user station provides first user identification information to the remote computer system. The remote computer system uses the first user identification information in transaction during the first communication session. The remote computer system also stores at least a portion of the first user identification information. The remote computer system also provides second user identification information to the user station, which is stored at the user station. The remote computer system also generates an association between the stored first user identification information and the second user identification information. During subsequent communication sessions between the user station and the remote computer system, the user station automatically provides the stored second user identification information to the remote computer system, that is, without user-prompting. The remote computer system uses the received second user identification information and the association, during the subsequent communication session, to identify and retrieve the stored first user identification information. The remote computer system then uses the retrieved first user identification information in the subsequent transaction.

02-18-2010

20100042466

Audience Manager and Resellers - A system for audience data exchange includes a first network and a second network. The first network is configured for obtaining data and providing the data to the exchange system. The first network comprises a seller of the data provided to the exchange system. The second network is coupled to the first network, and serves as a first buyer of the data provided by the first network. The seller monetizes the data without the need for participating in a particular ad call.

02-18-2010

20100274629

PRODUCT LIFECYCLE SUSTAINABILITY SCORE TRACKING AND INDICIA - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate sustainability monitoring and indicia thereof for a product over the course of the entire lifecycle of the product. In particular, the architecture can acquire a status update associated with a state of the product. Based upon the state, the architecture can determine an impact of that state to a sustainability score associated with the product.

10-28-2010

20100274626

RECEIPT OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM ANNOUNCEMENT RECIPIENTS OF CONSUMER DATA - An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

10-28-2010

20100299182

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING TEST SUBJECT FEEDBACK - Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus used to present a participant with a virtual reality simulation of a shopping environment. For example, the system of the present invention may be used to simulate the environment of a retail store where consumer goods are purchased. In one embodiment, a virtual reality station may include a number of functional systems that collectively provide an apparatus for capturing test subject feedback. The systems may include a participant interface and/or simulation control system, a support structure interconnection system, and a computer system configured to generate and present an immersive virtual reality environment on one or more display screens connected to the support structure.

11-25-2010

20100250330

ACQUISITION OF USER DATA TO ENHANCE A CONTENT TARGETING MECHANISM - Disclosed are a method and system of acquisition of user data to enhance a content targeting mechanism. A method includes acquiring a personalized user data Δ available from an external source using an external access regulator authorization α. The method further includes algorithmically selecting a targeted media content based on the personalized user data Δ, and publishing the targeted media content through a display module.

09-30-2010

20110040604

Systems and Methods for Providing Targeted Content - Systems and methods for providing targeted content to a network user. In one embodiment, a method for providing targeted content to a consumer via a network during the consumer's viewing of a webpage can be provided. The method can include aggregating data from one or more of the following: crawled webpage data, vertical clickstream data, and previously stored webpage visitation data. The method can further include determining one or more trends associated with an industry vertical based at least in part on some of the aggregated data. Further, the method can include determining at least one content recommendation for the consumer based at least in part on one or more trends associated with an industry vertical. Moreover, the method can include outputting the at least one content recommendation to the consumer via the webpage.

02-17-2011

20090281877

IDENTIFYING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ITEMS AND EMAIL-ADDRESS-BASED USER COMMUNITIES - A computer-implemented service analyzes collected data reflective of actions of users of an interactive system to identify items that are significantly more popular in specific user communities than in a general user population. The communities may, for example, include email-based communities (e.g., all users with email addresses associated with a particular company or other organization), shipping address based communities (e.g., all users with shipping addresses in Seattle), and/or communities based on other types of user attributes. The results of the analysis may be exposed to users to assist users in making item selection decisions, and/or may be used to provide item recommendations to users.

11-12-2009

20090281876

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL POWER DERIVATIVES - A method, system and program product for facilitating trading derivatives of energy constraints, the method comprising in one embodiment: obtaining electronically historical constraint price data on transmission elements or groups of transmission elements over a number of respective time increments; performing electronically an algorithm calculation on the constraint prices for one of the transmission elements or one of the groups of transmission elements over a number of time increments within a given period of time, to obtain constraint price data for the one transmission element or group of transmission elements for the given period of time; performing this algorithm calculation step for a plurality of the periods of time to obtain constraint price data for each of the plurality of transmission elements or groups of transmission elements for the plurality of periods of time; and making accessible the constraint price data. The invention further includes market making embodiments, binding hours derivative embodiments, and load derivative embodiments. In a further embodiment, a method, system and program product for operating an electronic trading exchange for power derivatives is disclosed.

11-12-2009

20090281875

TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS - A system for recommending travel receives traveler trip data including both previously collected information and dynamically collected information. The system uses a traveler's trip information to produce recommendations the traveler. These recommendations are prioritized and then several top recommendations are presented to the traveler for purchase.

11-12-2009

20090281874

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS WITHIN MOBILE CONTENT - A system is provided for providing content including one or more interactive components to a wireless device. The system includes a content server configurable to deliver push content to the wireless device, a processor for controlling operation of the server, a communications subsystem coupled to the processor for communicating with a communications network, and a memory coupled to the processor. The content server includes one or more modules for providing the content to the wireless device, the one or more modules being configured to cause the content server to: receive a content file including the content and information about the one or more interactive components, the information about each individual interactive component comprising one or more attributes useful in rendering the individual interactive component; process the content file and package the processed content file as a content package for delivery to the wireless device; and send the content package to the wireless device as a push delivery.

11-12-2009

20090281873

Systems and methods for providing spending information and budgeting recommendations to students - Systems and methods are provided for electronically providing spending information and budgeting recommendations to a student of an educational institution. The systems and methods comprise capturing student interaction data, wherein the student interaction data has one or more data elements. At least one of the captured one or more data elements is associated with student financial account usage. The systems and methods provide spending data based on the student financial account usage, and provide one or more spending recommendations based at least in part on the associated student financial account usage. The spending recommendations may be based at least in part on a student role (e.g., first year student, second year student, a transfer student, a non-traditional student, or a foreign student, etc.), demographic, activities attended, or academic major.

11-12-2009

20090281872

TARGETING OF ADVERTISEMENTS TO A NETWORK CONTENT PROVIDER - Embodiments are directed towards targeting postings of advertisements and personalized messages to a content provider based, in part, on content that the content provider posts over the network to a content site for access by other than the content provider. The content provider may register for and place a code snippet, or the like, onto a content site, such as a web page. The content provider may post any of a variety of content on the web page for access and/or viewing. The posted content and related activities of the content provider may be analyzed to identify content posting characteristics. When the content provider is detected to visit the content site, a targeted advertisement or other message, may be selected and displayed to the content provider based on the identified content posting characteristics.

11-12-2009

20090281869

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED MULTIPLE FACTORS INTO A UNIFIED OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR RETAIL NETWORK CONFIGURATION - A method and system for integrating multiple factors into a unified optimization model for retail network configuration, in one aspect, obtains input data for modeling store configuration. The input data may include demand of each merchandise category from each customer segment in each facility, geographic distribution of stores in an area, current revenue of stores, and physical cost of reconfiguring stores. A trade area is generated as a function of store location, store format, and store capacity. The method and system also generates trade area demand summation representing predicted total demand of all stores for all merchandise categories for all customer segments in the trade area, as a function of store location, store format, store capacity, merchandise category, and customer segment associated with the trade area. An objective function is constructed as a function of said trade area demand summation, current revenue of stores, and physical cost of reconfiguring stores.

11-12-2009

20090281867

System and Method to Service Medical Equipment - A system and method to facilitate service delivery to a client is provided. In one embodiment, a system may collect service event data corresponding to one or more failure modes from a population of devices and analyze the service event data in accordance with a reliability growth model to detect a trend in occurrences of the one or more failure modes. The system may also predict future client demand for service of the population of devices attributable to the one or more failure modes based at least in part on the detected trend, and generate a report indicating at least one of the detected trend or the predicted future client demand.

11-12-2009

20100312613

METHOD OF EVALUATING LEARNING RATE OF RECOMMENDER SYSTEMS - A recommender system is analyzed to determine various performance characteristics, such as a learning rate for new items, or a learning rate for new subscriber tastes. Comparisons of different recommenders are presented to assist consumers and marketers in selecting appropriate e-commerce sites for purchasing, advertising, etc.

12-09-2010

20100312614

Methods and System for Managing Vending Operations Based on Wireless Data - A system coupled to one or more vending machines, such as soft drink vending machines, via a wireless data link can acquire operational vending data, for example sales data, hardware status, and product temperature. The system can compile data from multiple vending machines dispersed across a geographic area such as a city or state. The system can include software that refines the vending operations of one or more such vending machines based on analysis of acquired data, taking into consideration other information such as market, business, seasonal, or environmental factors. Refining vending operations can include adjusting product offerings, relocating vending machines, replicating favorable conditions, and addressing unexpected sales variations.

12-09-2010

20100153178

SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE INTRINSIC VALUE PROVIDED TO INTERNET USERS BY SELECTED WEB SITES - The WEB Site Valuation System identifies each user's personal attribution of value to a selected WEB site. The attribution is constrained by assigning each user a predetermined number of assignable credits/tokens from which the user can draw to “deposit” or “withdraw” previously deposited credits in the “account” of a WEB site. The tally of credits for each WEB site is then a direct indication of the value provided to users. This ultimately creates a token economy for and within the WEB, based upon user opinion of the value of WEB sites. The dynamic mapping and correlation of these value indications with the users' characteristics provides analytical data that can be used to determine the relevance of the WEB site to various socio-demographic populations, as well as the response of the users to changes in the WEB site, market forces, and/or the entire community of WEB sites.

06-17-2010

20100153177

SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE INTRINSIC VALUE PROVIDED TO INTERNET USERS BY SELECTED WEB SITES - The WEB Site Valuation System identifies each user's personal attribution of value to a selected WEB site. The attribution is constrained by assigning each user a predetermined number of assignable credits/tokens from which the user can draw to “deposit” or “withdraw” previously deposited credits in the “account” of a WEB site. The tally of credits for each WEB site is then a direct indication of the value provided to users. This ultimately creates a token economy for and within the WEB, based upon user opinion of the value of WEB sites. The dynamic mapping and correlation of these value indications with the users' characteristics provides analytical data that can be used to determine the relevance of the WEB site to various socio-demographic populations, as well as the response of the users to changes in the WEB site, market forces, and/or the entire community of WEB sites.

06-17-2010

20110071884

Customer Loyalty, Product Demonstration, and Store/Contact Center/Internet Coupling System and Method - A system for storing information about searches and inquiries by a customer is provided. The system includes a customer service server that receives information from two or more sources, such as from a retail location sales agent, a website, a call center agent, etc. The information is associated and correlated to interrelate inquiries from the different sources. Further, when the user enters a retail location, a node or server at the retail location can push test application to a user's mobile device based on the past inquiries. These test applications are provided only when the customer is present in the retail location. As such, hacking the application is prevented. Further, with the customer using the application in the retail location, a sales agent is present to assist the customer.

03-24-2011

20100023373

SYSTEM FOR ENABLING BOTH A SUBJECTIVE AND AN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE - A system to enable a subjective and an objective evaluation of supplier performance is provided and includes a commodity/part/supplier search system, a traceability system, an aggregation system, a survey system, an evaluation system, a scoring system, and an alert system to compare the score with the target performance level of the supplier and, if the score differs from the predicted performance level by a predetermined amount, to alert the supplier of the differential.

01-28-2010

20100312607

ADVERTISEMENT DELIVERY METHOD - An advertisement delivery method for occupants of vehicles. The advertisement delivery method includes determining an advertisement by a host computer system, and sending the advertisement to a computer system in a vehicle by the host computer system.

12-09-2010

20100023381

Characteristics Of Players Systems & Methods For Analyzing Electronically Embodied Games - Features of electronically embodied games are logically categorized, analyzed, and compared. Features are preferably organized according to a hierarchical classification scheme, according to a classification scheme that is not strictly tautological. All suitable feature sets are contemplated, including sets corresponding to characteristics of personifications of players and non-players, types and/or uses of game space, methods of rewarding a player, etc. In other aspects comparisons are made between an evaluation game and one or more sets of historically available games. Such sets can be grouped by genre and the number of games in such sets can range anywhere from a single game to hundreds of games, or more. Reporting and guidance can include providing a risk assessment score or other risk analysis, feature assessment (prevalence), market placement, business model analysis, dynamic trend analysis, clustered pattern recognition, and image analysis.

01-28-2010

20110071883

System and Method of Model Forecasting Based on Supply and Demand - A computer-implemented method transforms transactional data and supply data into a forecast of demand for controlling a commerce system. Goods move between members of a commerce system. Transactional data related to movement of goods between the members of the commerce system is recorded. The transactional data includes customer store, product, time, price, promotion, and merchandizing. Supply data related to movement of goods between the members of the commerce system is recorded. The supply data includes inventory, product, store, and merchandising readily available for purchase. Model parameters are estimated based on the transactional data and supply data using a model to generate a forecast of demand for the goods. The forecast of demand for the goods is provided to a member of the commerce system to control the movement of goods in the commerce system. The forecasts of demand takes into account an out-of-stock condition, price promotion, and promotional lift of the product.

03-24-2011

20110077998

CATEGORIZING ONLINE USER BEHAVIOR DATA - A method for categorizing online user behavior data, including creating a target set of users based on an advertiser query, identifying two or more users in the target set having one or more first similar behavior attributes using a Minhash algorithm; and modifying the target set according to the two or more identified users.

03-31-2011

20100023378

Process for quantifying consumer or voter values - A method for quantifying a participant's values and opinions comprising the steps of: presenting a list of qualities pertaining to a set of alternatives to the participant, the participant ranking the importance of said qualities, presenting a list of alternatives to the participant, the participant rating the alternatives on performance or possession of said qualities, transforming the data so as to quantitatively compare the alternatives.

01-28-2010

20100114646

Method and System for Segmenting Customers for Marketing and Other Projects - A customer segmentation technique automatically selects a customer score for customers from a plurality of predetermined customer scores during a daily processing sequence, allowing customer segmentation and performing marketing activities based on the customer score in the same daily processing sequence responsive to the customer score. The customer score encodes one or more customer status conditions that can be used by later functions in the daily processing sequence to guide marketing activities.

05-06-2010

20100280876

IMPLICIT RATING OF ADVERTISEMENTS - Methods for measuring resonance of an ad with a user. Ads are delivered to a user during a commercial break of a program being delivered by a content provider. Each ad is associated with a unique identifier and at least one tag describing an attribute of the ad. Input from the user is received during presentation of an ad indicating that the user would like to stop viewing the ad before the ad has ended. The user's interest in the ad is determined based on the amount of time that the user viewed the ad before, and the instance of the user's viewing behavior is stored in a user profile database.

11-04-2010

20100280880

DETERMINING TARGETED INCENTIVES BASED ON CONSUMER TRANSACTION HISTORY - Systems, apparatus, and methods for determining incentives based on consumer history. When, how, and to whom incentives are sent can be determined. For example, an incentive can be sent to a consumer to encourage a transaction at a time when the particular consumer is predisposed to initiate the transaction. Also, an incentive for a transaction can be sent to a consumer when that transaction has a high likelihood of leading to other transactions. An incentive can also be sent after a consumer initiates a transaction that is known to not have many subsequent transaction correlated to it.

11-04-2010

20100280873

Electronic coupon storage and manipulation system and method - A system and method for scanning paper coupons and coordinating their use with electronic coupons for the provided is a internet based electronic coupon searching system. Further provided, is a method and apparatus to combine electronic and paper coupons into a master coupon for secure redemption through an electronic coupon clearing house and offering coupon distribution system.

11-04-2010

20100280882

FREQUENCY-BASED TRANSACTION PREDICTION AND PROCESSING - Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for tracking and analyzing data of consumer activity. The tracked data can be organized (e.g. as stored in cache, RAM, hard drives) in certain types of tables, where the tables can be associated with certain tags (keys) for efficiently accessing the data. The organization and associations of the data can also provide simple mechanisms for manipulating the data to obtain results specifically relevant for a task, such as detection of fraud or prediction of consumer behavior to provide better customer service or new services. For example, the tables may contain counters that store the number of times that two correlated consumer events occur within specific time intervals of each other. Such time data can provide efficient determination of patterns of consumer activity.

11-04-2010

20100280877

TECHNIQUES FOR PRODUCT AFFINITY ANALYSIS - Techniques for Product Affinity Analysis are presented. A user interacts with a tool to supply user-defined criteria. The criteria are used to automatically generate code that processes against a data store to collect results that conform to conditions defined by the criteria. The results are used to automatically populate a Product Affinity Analysis chart or grid for the user to view and in some cases dynamically interact with.

11-04-2010

20100280881

DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS USING TIME-BASED CONSUMER TRANSACTION HISTORIES - Systems, apparatus, and methods for determining groups of similar consumers and for identifying a trend in consumer behavior are provided. Likelihoods of a transaction being initiated at various times by one consumer can be calculated based on previous transactions of the consumer. The likelihoods for different consumers can be used to determine a group of similar consumers as a demographic. The likelihoods of a transaction being initiated at various times by a consumer of a demographic (or other entity) can be used to forecast trends (such as a demand for a product) and make business decisions, such as for marketing campaigns, inventory levels (e.g. at particular stores or for all stores), pricing, and store locations. Such likelihoods when focused to a particular category of transactions can provide even greater accuracy.

11-04-2010

20100324974

Multi-Attribute Web Content Auctions - Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems which may provide for multi-attribute auctioning. Bids and offers which comprise non-price attributes may be received by an auction service, such as web content bids and offers for space on webpages. The service may evaluate the various attributes of the bids and offers in a quantitative manner, developing a value for the bid and offer that includes both price information and other non-price attributes. This valuation may be performed through the use of one or more willingness-to-pay functions which, based on a knowledge of an agent, determine a numerical value for that agent's willingness to pay according to the non-price attributes. The result from evaluating this function may then be used to determine which auction bids and offers may be matched. The auction service may publish statistics about past performance of agents and the bid or offer can include one or more probability distributions for future performance, based on the published statistics. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

12-23-2010

20090313083

RENEWABLE ENERGY CALCULATOR - A calculator or system for evaluating renewable energies in various geospatial areas or regions and for targeting potential buyers. The calculator may have a financial model which has inputs of renewable energy data by region including respective energy outputs and monetary values. The inputs may also include financial information related to establishing renewable energies. An output from the financial model may include a scorecard of information. Also, customer information may be added to the scorecard. The scorecard may have an output that targets potential customers of renewable energies.

12-17-2009

20100063870

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF TRADE PROMOTIONS ON COMPETITIVE STORES - Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on competitive stores are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a target product sold at the target store associated with the trade promotion, and identifying a plurality of competitive products having a degree of similarity to the target product. The example method also includes retrieving all commodities volume (ACV) data from a plurality of stores in a geography of interest that sell the plurality of competitive products, calculating a percentage overlap of the ACV data to generate a competitive trading area table of store pairs within a threshold value of the overlap, calculating a brand store switching value by dividing a brand incremental volume by a base equivalent volume for the store pairs, the brand store switching value indicative of the trade promotion store effect; and generating a report including the brand store switching value.

03-11-2010

20100057529

PROVIDER-REQUESTED RELOCATION OF COMPUTERIZED WORKLOADS - Power or energy providers are enabled to request and initiate the relocation of customer computational workloads to other energy providers or other locations during critical situations, such as weather crises, national emergencies, power distribution interruptions, or equipment upsets. Workloads may be pre-registered and automatically relocated by the provider based on conditions of agreements between the provider and the customer. Alternatively, provider-initiated requests may be broadcast to all customers or specified subscribed customers giving them the ability to redirect the workloads as desired. The workloads may be re-allocated based upon such factors as lower costs, time shifts or quality of service contract provisions. The re-allocation serves to minimize or eliminate the potential adverse impact on the customer while maintaining a level of service that is satisfactory to the customer.

03-04-2010

20100274634

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONDUCTING A COMMUNICATION - A method of conducting a communication over a communication network, the method comprising: —registering a user of a communication device as a member user MD of a securing entity VM, the securing entity VM authenticating personal data of the member user MD via a trusted third party entity TTP, —sorting the personal data of the member user according to categories comprising identifying data, non-identifying data and semi-identifying data, non-identifying data and semi-identifying data being correlated to identifying data by a sworn person of the trusted third party entity TTP, only at least one of non-identifying data and semi-identifying data being requestable by any client entity YMD, PAWS, PCWS, SOS during a communication and/or a transaction, —archiving identifying data in a trusted third party entity TTP, and —electronically storing at least a part of semi-identifying data in a trusted third party entity database TTPDB, and non-identifying data in a securing entity database VMDB.

10-28-2010

20100250332

System and Method for Adaptive Bidding for Display Advertising - A system for performing adaptive bidding to secure Internet advertising impressions in an auction. Included are systems for analyzing advertising campaign objectives, including a campaign period, a target number of impressions, a target budget. An exemplary technique defines a bidding agent for performing the adaptive bidding seeking the minimum target spending of the budget. Objective results of the campaign such as average cost per won impression, total campaign duration relative to desired campaign period, and total expenditure relative to campaign budget can be optimized based on an empirically determined forecast. Techniques for adapting bids include statistically modeling winning bids during an exploration bidding phase, performing iterations for adjustment of the bid amounts using learn-while-bid adaptive bidding, learn-then-bid adaptive bidding, and guess-double-adjust adaptive bidding. Bidding tactics, especially those used to identify a minimum target bid and a maximum target bid used in bidding on an exchange are employed, and the results analyzed using statistical models.

09-30-2010

20100228606

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANNING AND CUSTOMIZING A GAMING EXPERIENCE - The invention includes a system and method for planning and customizing a gaming vacation. Initially, a central controller receives preference and configuration data from a user at a user terminal. A preparation code is then determined and associated with the configuration data. The configuration data and the associated preparation code are transmitted from the central controller to a casino server. The central controller provides feedback regarding the user's requests. The feedback may include, for example, marketing offers for the user and/or configuring a gaming device according to the configuration data associated with a preparation code received from a user at the gaming device.

System and Method for Generating Demand Groups - The present invention relates to a system and method for generating demand groups. The demand groups may then be fed to downstream pricing optimization and/or business decision systems. The system receives demand group modeling data including a product listing, point of sales data, available econometric data and product information. Attributes may then be assigned to the products based upon product identifiers, size, flavor, brand, and product descriptions utilizing natural language processing. The products may then be clustered according to the attributes and point of sales data utilizing any of hierarchical clustering, k-means clustering, locality sensitive hashing, QT clustering, EM algorithms and model based clustering. One or more decision trees may be generated for the product listings using the point of sales data. Demand rules may be received, which may be applied to the product clusters and the decision trees to generate demand groups. A confidence score may be generated for each product indicating how well that product fits within the demand group. These confidence scores may be compared against a threshold. Products with scores below the threshold may be flagged for user review.

09-09-2010

20100228603

CONTENT ALTERNATIVE MONETIZATION SYSTEM - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing advertisements to users with verification that the user has viewed and understood the advertisement. As an incentive to view the advertisement, the user is provided with awards that can be redeemed for various goods and services. In an example, the user may redeem the awards for MP3 downloads, which the system obtains from a vendor system and stores in a staging area for provision to the user.

09-09-2010

20100228600

System and method for sponsorship recognition - A method and apparatus for providing recognition to individuals and corporations (sponsors) that sponsor electronic content and other products and services, including, for example: video games, CDs, DVDs, movie rentals, game rentals, downloadable content, virtual gaming accessories and other merchandise. Sponsors may associate an icon with sponsored content so that users, such as gamers, who may not be viewing the sponsored content, may see the sponsor's icon and a description of the sponsored content when other gamers are using the sponsored content. Thus, the sponsor may receive recognition for their participation in providing the goods and/or services.

09-09-2010

20100228599

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FIDUCIARY COMPLIANCE WITH EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS - An employee retirement plan fiduciary audit questionnaire development, implementation, and reporting system which includes the following interrelated and interdependent web based processes: (1) question and related support development and distribution, (2) organization of questions into questionnaires, (3) assignment of people resources involved, and 4) production and distribution of reports to present findings. The processes occur interactively at three levels: (1) a master program level, (2) a service provider level, and (3) retirement plan level.

09-09-2010

20100228597

Transferring Targeting and Marketing Information from an Online Advertisement System - An online advertising system integrates third party agents to permit the third party agents to participate in auctions to bid on a per opportunity basis. An advertising exchange module receives requests for opportunities to serve online advertisements to users. In response, an advertising exchange module applies one or more business rules to determine third party agents that qualify to serve the online advertisement. A bid gateway module generates and transmits requests for bids to the third party agents. The bid gateway module then receives bids from the third party agents in response to the requests for bids. The advertising exchange module then selects an advertisement based on the bid. The online advertisement exchange system provides a unified marketplace to permit integrator networks to bid on both ads pursuant to guaranteed contracts and ads not subject to guaranteed contracts (e.g., non-guaranteed ads). The online advertisement system further includes traffic management to allow the third parties to regulate bid requests sent from the online advertisement system. In some embodiments, the online advertising system caches bids, to efficiently implement the per opportunity auction, and transmits information, such as targeting information, to the third party agents to aid in the third party agents' formulation of bids.

09-09-2010

20100228596

COMPUTER ADVERTISING SYSTEM WITH BUILT-IN PER-IMPRESSION CONSUMER FEEDBACK MECHANISM - A computer advertising system that has a built-in per-impression consumer feedback mechanism for measuring consumer recognition of an advertising message. A method of advertising based on actual recognition of an advertising message by a consumer can include presenting an advertisement on an interface where the advertisement has at least one advertising message, presenting a consumer feedback mechanism on the interface such that the consumer feedback mechanism is configured to receive an indication of recognition by a consumer of at least one advertising message, receiving the indication of recognition, and optionally determining at a pricing computer an advertising price based at least in part on the received indication of recognition per advertising impression.

09-09-2010

20100228589

Behavior-based feedback and routing in social-networking business - A system and method to incentivize members in social networking businesses model is based on historic and time-dependent behavior of members. Bilateral feedback mechanisms are used to influence behaviors of individual members and partners by rewarding benefiting behaviors and penalizing anti-benefiting behaviors explicitly. Rules for selecting matching supplying and demanding sites are also influenced by the historic behaviors of the supplying and demanding members or partners. Paths to route goods and services in a social-networking community are also chosen to increase competitive pricings and the selection of product offerings, based on current and historic behaviors of members and partners.

09-09-2010

20100332290

System and Method For Automated Contact Qualification - Contact lead quality is determined and presented to guide selection of contact leads for a predetermined activity, such as sales of a product, service or solution. A lead generation engine interfaces with a lead qualification module, an enterprise historical database and a lead confirmation tool to selectively analyze the lead information and qualification information to develop an ordered contact list for multiple contact leads, the ordered list ranking contact lead quality in multiple quality categories. A contact lead qualification graphical user interface presents multiple lead quality category ratings and values for a contact lead with each lead quality category indicative of a contact lead characteristic. These leads are then deemed relevant to sales and can be input in an organization's customer relationship management tool.

12-30-2010

20100125486

System and method for determining supply chain performance standards - A method for generating supply chain performance standards comprises receiving historical supply chain data associated with a supply chain and determining a confidence factor associated with the historical supply chain data. The method also includes generating one or more supply chain simulation files based on the historical supply chain data and establishing a plurality of supply chain settings associated with the one or more supply chain simulation files. Performance of the supply chain is predicted by simulating the one or more supply chain simulation files based on the plurality of supply chain settings. One or more supply chain performance standards are estimated based on the predicted performance of the supply chain and the confidence factor associated with the historical supply chain data.

Device and Method for Creating, Distributing, Managing and Monetizing Widgets Including Streaming - A computerized development method, system and apparatus for creating a widget designed to control streaming media are disclosed. The method, system and apparatus include creating a widget to control streaming media, the widget including a widgetized existing code element, distributing the created widget, reporting and tracking the distributed widget, wherein the reporting and tracking the distributed widget enables access to how the created widget is being used via analytics of the created widget, and monetizing the widget to generate revenue based on the created, distributed, and reported and tracked widget.

11-25-2010

20110078000

CONTROLLING CONTENT DISTRIBUTION - Distributing content using one or more content distributors associated with respective content distribution channels is based on an analysis of historical content distribution information and analysis rules. Recommended actions are provided to a content provider along with estimations of predicted results.

ADVERTISING TRIGGERS BASED ON INTERNET TRENDS - Among other things, a computer-implemented method for presenting an ad. The method includes receiving from an advertiser a predetermined level of online interest in a specified topic. The method further includes determining whether a current level of online interest meets or exceeds the predetermined level, and selectively presenting the ad based on the determination.

08-05-2010

20100198658

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ONLINE AUCTIONS AND MARKET-PLACES UTILIZING PROGRAM TERMS - An on-line market-place includes an auction wherein one or more predefined terms, qualities, incentives, or other such indicia (generally, “Program Terms”) are associated with the particular product and/or service which is the subject of the auction. Customers rank or otherwise designate their preference for these Program Terms (e.g., by selecting a “Preferred Program Term”), and the system then partitions the customers into “pools” in accordance with the selected Program Terms. Merchants then compete to obtain that pool of customers by bidding on the Preferred Program Term. Customers may be pooled according to demographic or other customer characteristics (“Characteristic Pooling”), or according to level of commitment to purchase (“Commitment Pooling”).

08-05-2010

20100306028

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MODEL WITH GHOST GROUPS - Example methods and apparatus to model with ghost respondents are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes estimating discrete choice utility values for a plurality of respondents based on a plurality of market-available products, and dividing the plurality of respondents into groups based on an ownership status of the plurality of market-available products. The example method also includes identifying a test starter product from the plurality of market-available products based on test criteria indicative of a degree of similarity with the new product, generating a ghost group associated with the new product, and assigning utility values of the test starter product to the new product in the ghost group. Additionally, the example method includes tailoring the utility values assigned to the new product with a ghost group utility adjustment rule, and generating a ghost group model to represent consumers of the new product.

12-02-2010

20100306024

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING AN ONLINE SURVEY AND SUMMARIZING SURVEY RESPONSE DATA - Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods which allow for the creation of online surveys in which thematically-related questions are grouped together as meta-questions to reduce the perceived and/or actual time and effort needed to complete the survey. Further disclosed embodiments provide the ability to provide a summary display of survey response data in an aggregate format such as a sentence (or pseudo-sentence) which summarizes answers given to a series of thematically related questions.

12-02-2010

20100070345

CUSTOMER-BASED PRODUCT DESIGN MODULE - A network, including a product sub-system that interacts with a user, gathers information from the user, communicates the information to the product's vendor, and receives new pre-programmed interactions from the vendor for future interactions with the user. The sub-system is in or attached to a product. Further components include a data processing system for constructing and downloading pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a communications sub-system for transmitting the data from the product sub-system to the vendor's computer; a communications apparatus for reading the product sub-system's data, transmitting it to the vendor's computer, and downloading new pre-programmed interactions to the product sub-system; a data processing system residing in the product sub-system and for conducting interactions with a user; and a data processing system residing in the vendor's computer and for analyzing and reporting the information gathered from users.

03-18-2010

20100306027

Net-Metering In A Power Distribution System - net-metering in a power distribution system that includes a DRG system that is capable of providing power to a local load, an electric utility, and one or more batteries for storage, where net-metering is carried out iteratively during operation of the power distribution system and includes: creating, by a decision control engine, a local load and generation profile for a predefined period of time; deciding, by the decision control engine in accordance with revenue optimizing decision criteria and in dependence upon the local load and generation profile, present and projected utility power purchase prices, and a present state of charge of the batteries, whether to sell or store locally generated power; providing locally generated power to the electric utility if the decision control engine decides to sell locally generated power; and charging batteries with locally generated power if the decision control engine decides to store locally generated power.

12-02-2010

20100306025

COLLABORATIVE OPTIMIZATION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT - An online advertisement system determines which of a plurality of advertisement clickthroughs are successful online events. A successful online event is based on an advertisement online reference and a success online reference. The system further correlates the number of successful online events for a traffic originator. In addition, the online advertisement system computes an advertisement penalty based on the computed correlation.

VEHICLE SEAT COMPONENT SELECTION SYSTEM - A vehicle seat component selection system includes a showroom having a vehicle seat component display and a touch screen terminal for input of customer data such as vehicle identification, vehicle assembly location and vehicle assembly volume. The terminal has access to a vehicle seat component database which defines characteristics of each component, such as sourcing location, cost, and compatibility with other components. A customer seat selection report is created by selecting components from the database, with a signal provided in the event incompatible components are selected. The terminal graphically displays the components as they are selected, and indicates a price range for the seat assembly as it is being proposed.

11-04-2010

20100114659

MINING PUBLIC MEDIA FOR CONSUMER RESPONSE INFORMATION - Systems and methods for inferring the success or failure of a third-party Marketing Effort Assays (MEAs) from the marketing efforts of that third party which follow up on the MEA are provided. The system may involve identifying Initial MEA Marketing Efforts (IMEs) by the use of keyword analysis, maintaining a database of such marketing efforts, and comparing those IMEs to later-observed follow-up marketing efforts. The system may further involve establishing geographically or demographically similar peer groupings and applying the inferred success or failure of the MEAs in one such peer group member to another such peer group member.

05-06-2010

20100312608

CONTENT ADVERTISEMENTS FOR VIDEO - Described herein are techniques and components for displaying a text advertisement in an online video being viewed by a user. The advertisement is selected based on keywords associated with the online video or the user, and the selected advertisement is presented as an overlay on the rendered video over regions of frames determined to be less important in the video. To determine importance, every frame of the online video is divided into grids, and parameters of the visual data in each grid are analyzed. Based on the analysis of each grid, regions in successive frames are identified to display the selected advertisement.

12-09-2010

20100306029

Cardholder Clusters - A system and method of using transaction data for a population of account holders, such as credit card holders, is described. A frequency distribution input variable (Frd) and average amount distribution input variable (Avd) are calculated for each account and each merchant category. The Frd and Avd, either alone or in conjunction with each other, are used to assign accounts to clusters as well as calculate factors for factor analysis. The assigned cluster and calculated factors for each account are both used for further processing, such for as selecting accounts to which advertising materials will be sent or determining a surrogate account for a control group.

12-02-2010

20100306031

System and Method for Product Role Analysis - The present invention relates to a system and method for analyzing product roles. The system receives a listing of products for classification into roles. The system receives volume data for each item, as well as demand coefficient. Elasticity of the products may be determined from the demand coefficients. Product volumes and elasticities may then be compared against one another by graphing the product by its volume versus elasticity. From this comparison the products may be classified into one or more roles. These roles include image items, niche products, assortment completers, and profit drivers. The assortment completer role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and low relative volume. Niche product role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and low relative volume. The image item role is populated with products which have high relative elasticity and high relative volume. And lastly, the profit driver role is populated with products which have low relative elasticity and high relative volume. This comparison may also include generating an “image value” for the product.

12-02-2010

20100306023

Systems and Methods of Selecting Advertisements Using a Local User Profile - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing user-targeted advertisements to content recipients. Such advertisements may, for example, be selected using a user profile that is maintained locally at the recipient's computing or other content consuming device. A user profile can include information about the user's past viewing behavior. One exemplary embodiment uses a local content player software application to maintain a user profile based on contextual, behavioral, demographic, and other data linked to the content, the user's viewing habits, and/or location, among other things. Such a content player can select advertisements by matching user content information with user profile information. User profile information can be limited to local use to protect user privacy concerns.

12-02-2010

20100280874

MOBILE DEVICE, NETWORK SERVER AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING CORRELATION BETWEEN ADVERTISEMENT INFORMATION AND USER BEHAVIOR - The present invention relates to a mobile device, network server and method for evaluating a correlation between advertisement information and the behavior of a user having received the advertisement information to verify the effectiveness of providing advertisement information to a user directly without having a user to take a survey. The method comprises providing advertisement information to the user, maintaining an association between said advertisement information and business location data indicative of at least one location of a business, obtaining mobile device location data about the current location of a mobile device of the user, comparing said mobile device location data with said business location data, and if the comparing step determines that said mobile device location matches with a business location indicated in said business location data, registering the match.

11-04-2010

20100030620

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORKING SHOPS ONLINE AND OFFLINE - A computer implemented method presents garments to a consumer using a computer by reading a garment database. The database includes garments from a plurality of retail, manufacturing, and media partners. Media and retail partners combine inventories on data servers and allow each partner to show a particular offering of garments at their website. A given partner may tailor the particular garment offering to subscribers based on a profile relating to the garment parameters contained within the database inventory. Applications within the system produce outfits composed of garment selections based on particular user profile information. Outfits selections are presented to the user through a web browser where shopping and purchasing of various garments may be conducted. The computer implemented method is facilitated through databases, database servers, application servers and networks to interrelate inventory offerings between the partners.

02-04-2010

20100293034

MULTI-VARIABLE PRODUCT RANK - Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for ranking products using multiple data sources are provided. A computerized ranking system includes a ranking engine, loaders, and a presentation component. The ranking engine calculates a score for each product based on multiple counts logged by data sources. Loaders communicatively connected to the ranking engine provide the counts to the data sources. The presentation component generates a ranked product list for display on client devices in response to requests for a list of popular products.

11-18-2010

20110047006

SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR RATING WEBSITES FOR SAFE ADVERTISING - Systems, methods, and media for rating websites for safe advertising are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the method comprises: receiving a uniform resource locator corresponding to a webpage; selecting a plurality of evidentiary sources for obtaining evidence relating to the uniform resource locator, wherein each piece of evidence corresponds to one of the plurality of evidentiary sources; converting each piece of evidence obtained from the plurality of evidentiary sources into a plurality of instances that describe the webpage; applying the plurality of instances to a plurality of rating models, wherein each of the plurality of rating models generates an ordinomial and wherein the ordinomial encodes a probability of membership in one or more severity classes of a category; combining the ordinomial from each of the plurality of rating models into a combined ordinomial probability estimate; and generating a rating for the webpage based at least in part on the combined ordinomial probability estimate, wherein the rating identifies whether the webpage is likely to contain objectionable content of the category.

02-24-2011

20090265221

SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING THE INFLUENCE OF MARKETING ASSETS - In various embodiments, the influence of marketing assets upon an individual are analyzed. In particular, a record of the individual's interactions with a first marketing asset of a first marketing campaign may be stored in a database. Thereafter, the database may be queried to determine whether the individual interacted with the first marketing asset in accordance with defined criteria. If so, the individual may be associated with the first marketing campaign.

10-22-2009

20100191582

USER INTERFACE AND METHODS FOR RECOMMENDING ITEMS TO USERS - An improved user interfaces and methods are provided for presenting item recommendations to a user when the user selects an item to add to a shopping cart. In response to the user's selection, a page generation process generates and returns a page that includes a plurality of recommendations sections, each of which displays item recommendations generated using a different respective recommendation or selection algorithm (e.g., recommendations based on shopping cart contents, recommendations based on purchase history, etc.). These recommendation algorithms may be selected based on collected information regarding the user. The page may also include a shopping cart section which displays contents of the shopping cart.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED ACCESS TO HIGH FASHION USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - This is directed to systems and methods for enhancing a user's experience when shopping for high fashion items. In some embodiments, an integrated application available on an electronic device can provide information for promotional and invitation-only events, allow a user to browse and search through fashion items, recommend fashion items to purchase based on outfits desired by the user, check for the availability of particular fashion items, and view or providing ratings or reviews for stores or fashion items.

Network based ambient services - Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile.

07-29-2010

20100191571

DYNAMIC ADVERTISEMENT - Provided are mobile communications devices comprising a user interface portion configured to provide an advertisement via the device, wherein provision of the advertisement is correlated to an occurrence of an event associated with a use of the device. Also provided are methods for providing an advertisement through a user interface portion of a mobile communications device, as well as network entities comprising software that is configured to provide an advertisement through a user interface portion of a mobile communications device in communication with the network entity. The provision of advertisements in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a “dynamic” process whereby advertisements are correlated to an occurrence of an event associated with a use of the mobile communications device to which the advertisement is provided.

07-29-2010

20100191570

LOYALTY REWARD PROGRAM SIMULATORS - A method of defining an earnings profile and a reward profile for loyalty reward program for a credit card issuer for a plurality of participants. A survey to gather data related to the loyalty reward program earning types and the loyalty reward types is defined and response data related to the survey is collected from the plurality of participants. One or more segments of participants are identified as a function of the collected data. The collected data is further analyzed to determine the reach, frequency, and overlap of the loyalty reward program earning types for the identified segments and to determine preference shares for participants within the segments. At least one of the defined loyalty reward program earning types of the loyalty reward program is selected for the earnings profile of the loyalty reward program based on the determined reach, frequency, and overlap of the loyalty reward program earning types viewed in a first user interface. At least one of the defined loyalty reward types is for the reward profile of the loyalty reward program selected based on the determined choice for identified segments viewed in a second user interface.

07-29-2010

20110047005

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOOT TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT - A system for foot traffic analysis and management includes infrared sensors for sensing the movement and direction of traffic in a designated area. The system further includes one or more radio frequency identification sensors for sensing the location of a subset of the traffic in the designated area. The system also includes a controller adapted to receive data from infrared sensors and the radio frequency identification sensors, which may be provided to a computing system as an analysis and management interface. The system may further include manual alert devices that signal the controller when manually activated.

02-24-2011

20110054980

GAME REVENUE OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM - A revenue optimization system has a data tier for receiving data related to revenue generation factors for a computer program or a website. The data tier derives at least one metric based on the received data. A revenue optimization engine receives the metric and determines an optimized revenue generation configuration based on the metric. The revenue optimization engine generates a policy to optimize the revenue generation of the computer program or the website based on the determined optimized revenue generation configuration and communicates the policy to the computer program or the website where the policy is implemented.

03-03-2011

20100241489

SYSTEM FOR CROSS-INTEGRATION OF CONSUMER LOYALTY PROGRAMS AND METHODS THEREOF - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for cross-integrating consumer data from separate consumer loyalty programs to create an aggregated consumer record and methods thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for cross-integrating consumer loyalty programs comprises obtaining a first set of consumer data on a consumer from a first reward partner, obtaining a second set of consumer data from the consumer, aggregating the first set of consumer data and the second set of consumer data in a database, creating an aggregated consumer record in the database from the aggregated data, and providing access to the aggregated consumer record to the first reward partner.

09-23-2010

20100241486

REDUCING REVENUE RISK IN ADVERTISEMENT ALLOCATION - Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for selecting advertisements in an advertisement auction. A plurality of bids for an advertisement placement is received. An average expected payout for each bid of the plurality of bids is calculated to determine a plurality of average expected payouts. A plurality of possible allocations of the advertisements is determined. An expected revenue value for each of the possible allocations is calculated based on the calculated average expected payouts to generate a plurality of expected revenue values. A risk value is calculated for each of the possible allocations to generate a plurality of risk values. A bid of the plurality of bids is enabled to be selected based on the calculated expected revenue values and risk values.

09-23-2010

20110047003

DETERMINATION OF DECISION SUPPORT DATA CONCERNING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES - In relation to an entity such as a business having customers, a determination is made of at least one incremental satisfaction improvement value associated with increasing customer satisfaction of at least one customer by a fixed increment relative to a satisfaction scale. Based on the at least one incremental satisfaction improvement value, decision support data corresponding to a plurality of customer satisfaction improvement techniques is then determined, which decision support data may be presented in any desirable manner such as on a display device.

02-24-2011

20100235227

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE LIQUIDITY AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR LUXURY AND OTHER ILLIQUID ITEMS - Systems and methods for improving the liquidity and distribution network for luxury and other illiquid items are provided. These systems and methods preferably include the trading of futures and options contracts, which will provide the liquidity and distribution network for luxury items. Possible embodiments of these systems and methods include the trading of futures and options contracts for diamonds and wine. Another embodiment of this invention preferably includes generating indexes for diamond prices, wine prices, luxury item prices, housing values, mortgage prepayments, privately-held companies or for anything with from sufficiently liquid points of value. Another embodiment of this invention preferably includes a centralized data base for retrieving closing and current auction prices for determining the value of, and best method for the auctioning of various items. The data provided by this data base would improve liquidity by creating greater price transparency.

09-16-2010

20100235225

AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF SYSTEMATIC SALES PATTERNS USING AUTOCORRELATION TECHNIQUE - A method, based on autocorrelation techniques, for measuring the relative significance of the systematic versus random components of product sales data. The results of this determination can be used to improve product demand forecast and product seasonal profile determinations. When a product's sales variation is primarily due to systematic patterns, the accuracy of demand predictions and forecasts can be improved by understanding and modeling the underlying pattern. On the other hand, when variations in sales are merely random, these variations can be discounted when determining demand forecasts or product seasonal profiles.

09-16-2010

20100235223

System and method for automatic insertion of call intelligence in an information system - Systems and methods for providing automatic insertion of call intelligence in an information system are provided. In exemplary embodiments, new call detail records are accessed. At least one individual associated with the new call detail record may then be identified, and a subject matter associated with the new call detail record determined. A call intelligence record based on the identified individual and the subject matter is then generated and automatically inserted into the information system.

09-16-2010

20100235222

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING SALES MARKETS - A system and method for comparing prices of products or services between multiple markets and for analyzing the amount of time a specific product or products takes to sell in a specific market.

09-16-2010

20100235219

RECONCILING FORECAST DATA WITH MEASURED DATA - Systems and methods can be used to adjust an advertising budget associated with an advertising item based on forecast performance of a media item associated with the advertising item. The advertising budget can be reconciled based upon measured impressions associated with the advertising item.

09-16-2010

20100306026

PLACING PAY-PER-CLICK ADVERTISEMENTS VIA CONTEXT MODELING - An advertisement platform system makes advertisement placement decision via context modeling. The advertisement platform system receives advertisements and a plurality of advertisement target pages, wherein each of the advertisements is associated with one of the advertisement target pages. Furthermore, the advertisement platform system computes a similarity metric between one of the advertisement target and a displayed page. The advertisement platform system selects one of the advertisements for display in the display page based on the computed similarity metric between one of the plurality of advertisement target that corresponds to the selected one of the advertisement and the display page.

12-02-2010

20100324975

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROMOTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - A method and system for the online promotion of intellectual property includes providing an Internet host station with at least one database that is connectable via the Internet to consumer stations and industry stations. The database includes a plurality of intellectual property items and a description of each intellectual property item. At least one of the intellectual property items is selected by a consumer station and the description associated with the selected intellectual property item is viewed at the consumer station. Portions of the description may be confidential and therefore not normally viewed at the consumer station. Feedback data is sent from the consumer station to the host station. The feedback data includes consumer opinion information of the selected intellectual property item based at least in part on the description of the selected intellectual property item. The feedback data is then accessed from an industry station to thereby determine the interest in the selected intellectual property item based on the consumer opinion.

12-23-2010

20100324972

REAL-TIME, DEMAND-BASED DYNAMIC PRICING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems and methods for providing real-time dynamic pricing information for a product based on receipt of a price queries from consumers at point-of-sale. The system receives price queries for a product provided by a consumer at point-of-sale by way of use of a mobile communicating device such as cellphone. The system maintains a database of received price queries. A preset price query threshold value associated with the product is retrieved in response to a received query. A price query count is extracted for the product, the price query count being the number of price queries generated in a predefined sample period. A product price is calculated in real time based on a comparison between the price query count and the threshold values. The consumer may be provided with discounts or coupons based on marketing campaign parameters derived from the price query.

12-23-2010

20100324968

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY RESTRUCTURING DATABASE ENTRIES BASED ON DATA OBTAINED AMONG A PLURALITY OF USERS - There are disclosed systems and methods which provide for an inter-action between unrelated databases such that information provided to a first database by a first provider can be pushed from the first database to a user based, at least in part, on data provided by that user to a second database unrelated to the first database. This then allows a user to have information pushed to him/her based upon information previously obtained from that user or about that user. In one embodiment, the data required from a provider is determined based upon data gathered from other providers for similar items. In another embodiment, the user enters his/her information into one or more databases and the entered information forms the basis for information to be pushed to that user from any database even if the pushed information resides in a non-related database. In some situations certain data is gathered without active participation from the provider.

12-23-2010

20100179863

METHOD OF GENERATING MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MULTI-OBJECTIVE AVAILABLE-TO-SELL (ATS) OPTIMIZATION PROBLEM - Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a variety of end product build plans based on multiple business scenarios for exhausting excess inventory. Raw financial data and variable scaling factors are input into a scenario engine component along with a business objective that contains logic. The scaling factor may be embedded within the logic of the business objective, or it may be selected by a user to indicate the user's preferences. The scenario engine then applies the financial data and variable scaling factor inputs to the business objective logic to generate modified financial data. The logic of the business objective may also be manipulated to provide modified logic. The modified financial data, and optionally the modified logic, are then input into an optimizer component for determining multiple portfolios for end products that, if built, would consume excess inventory.

07-15-2010

20100179855

Large-Scale Behavioral Targeting for Advertising over a Network - A method and a system are provided for large-scale behavioral targeting for advertising over a network, such as the Internet. In one example, the system receives training data that is processed raw data of user behavior. The system generates selected features by performing feature selection on the training data. The system generates feature vectors from the selected features. The system initializes weights of a behavioral targeting model by scanning the feature vectors once. The system then updates the weights of the behavioral targeting model by scanning iteratively the feature vectors using a multiplicative recurrence.

07-15-2010

20090299824

System and Method for Collecting and Distributing Reviews and Ratings - A system and method for providing ratings related to a plurality of websites is provided. One embodiment of the system may include program code adapted to execute as a browser toolbar to implement a method comprising retrieving an identifier from the end user computing device, transmitting a request to a remote computer system for a rating value in response to a web page being loaded into the browser, receiving a rating value from the remote computer system, displaying the rating value in the toolbar, receiving a first user rating of the user from the remote computer system, displaying the first user rating in the toolbar, receiving a user input comprising a second user rating from the end user, transmitting the second user rating to the remote computer system, and displaying the second user rating in the toolbar. The remote computer system may store user ratings and reviews and transmit user ratings, an average rating, and a review count. The remote computer system may also parse URLs to determine whether the domain of the URL comprises a domain for which content may be rated. By parsing out an identifier of the URL for such domains, the system can be used to rate profiles of people on social networks and dating websites.

12-03-2009

20100030616

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SURVEYS - A system and method for collecting and analyzing data in real-time across a geographical area. The data is collected by different evaluators using a portable wireless device, and transmitted to a central database in real-time. The data can be reviewed at different levels as soon as it is available on the database. Unacceptable data can be immediately identified so that it can be obtained again. The data can be analyzed and a report subsequently produced.

02-04-2010

20090281868

System and Method for Pharmaceutical Geographic Market Segmentation - Techniques for pharmaceutical market segmentation can include measuring the influence of a plurality of predictors on market share for a pharmaceutical product, assigning districts to a plurality of incidence classes for the pharmaceutical product, and assigning districts to a plurality of segments based on the influence measurements and the incidence class assignments.

11-12-2009

20100306030

Contextual Content Targeting - A first item and a second item placed with content in a first medium are identified, and first performance information associated with the placement of the first item in the first medium and second performance information associated with the placement of the second item in the first medium are received. The first performance information is compared to the second performance information, and using at least one processor and based on the comparison of the first performance information to the second performance information, one of the first item or the second item is selected for placement with the same content in a second medium, the second medium being different from the first medium. The selected one of the first item and the second item then is forwarded.

12-02-2010

20100179857

Dynamic Demand Calculation using Captured Data of Real Life Objects - Methods and system for managing demand for an object includes capturing information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user. The mobile device is configured to capture information about the object that include one or more of a spatial, temporal, topical and social attributes of the object. The identity of the object is verified and validated using this metadata captured by the user through the device from the real world object or its proxy. Upon successful verification and validation, the object and its metadata are automatically added to a wish list of the user. An aggregate list is generated using the attributes and metadata of the object from a plurality of users. The aggregate list defines a source of demand for the object. The object is tracked as it progresses through various phases of ownership cycle using dynamic demand calculations based on the information associated with the objects, the users and the aggregate lists.

07-15-2010

20100179856

CONDITIONAL INCENTIVE PRESENTATION, TRACKING AND REDEMPTION - An offer is presented to a user via a user device, wherein the terms of the offer include at least one activity to be performed by the user or at least one behavior to be observed by the user and at least one incentive to be rewarded to the user responsive to the performance of the at least one activity or the observance of the at least one behavior. A determination is made as to whether the user has performed the at least one activity or observed the at least one behavior based on at least spatial, temporal, social and/or topical data obtained from a network-based tracking engine. Responsive to a determination that the user has performed the at least one activity or observed the at least one behavior, the user is provided with the at least one incentive.

07-15-2010

20090248494

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND TARGETING VISITOR BEHAVIOR - A system and method is disclosed for collecting website visitor activity for profiling visitor interests and dynamically modifying the content of the website to better match the visitor's profile. The visitor activity data is collected directly from the visitor's client browser or from the website's own web log information. The collected data consists of the page identifier, page links, and the previous page identifier. Similarly, the modified page content can be sent directly to the client browser or can be sent back to the website server for integration with the other page content. The collected data is stored in a database. Based on the amount of information collected on the visitor and the various items that are presented on the website, the visitors and items are profiled so that a visitor's response to other items can be predicted and recommended to the visitor. The recommendations can be requested and displayed directly by and to the client browser or the website server can make the request and subsequently display the matching content. The system has application in personalization, behavioral targeting, Internet retailing, social networking, affiliate marketing, and online advertising, to name but a few applications.

10-01-2009

20090319335

NASCAR CAR CARE AUTO FAIR - The present disclosure is related to the combination of a car show and product demonstration in connection with a NASCAR race. Car enthusiasts may be invited to participate and bring their cars for display at the car show. While at the show, the car enthusiasts may be exposed to several displays promoting and demonstrating products targeted to the car care enthusiasts. Sales data or survey data may be collected at the car show to enable data mining to determine associations between various products featured at the car show and attendees of the car show. A car care product company may easily market products to attendees of the NASCAR race. The company may also demonstrate the quality of the products by showing the use of the products in a real-world environment, such as with the NASCAR automobiles or with cars of the car enthusiasts participating in the car show.

12-24-2009

20110077997

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGEBACK ALLOCATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS - The invention provides a system and method for chargeback cost allocation in an information technology (IT) system including multiple resources. The method includes categorizing cost attributes of different resources into multiple levels defining a cost attribute hierarchy, defining different chargeback groups for resources with similar cost attributes and chargeback policies at different levels of the hierarchy, and performing chargeback cost allocation by allocating the cost for resources at each hierarchy level independently using chargeback policies defined for the resources at that hierarchy level.

03-31-2011

20100324969

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AN END OF ROUND IN A MULTIPLE ROUND AUCTION - A system and method for implementing End-Of-Round (EOR) calculations in computer implemented multiple round auctions. The EOR process allows for the adjustment of price, quantity, and other parameters, and also adjusts bids as necessary in accordance with the auction rules, parameter values, and constraints. Feasible starting points for the EOR process can be determined based on the post-EOR adjusted bids following the previous round, or based on bids submitted in the round just ended. Bid deviations based on switching and/or reductions in eligibility can be analyzed. Bid requests can be evaluated and granted based on auction rules, parameter values, and/or constraints. Bids can be rolled-back to realize a feasible solution. The EOR process can iteratively loop through the collection of bid deviations until all the bid deviations have been considered, or until an established time limit is reached.

12-23-2010

20090248484

AUTOMATIC CUSTOMIZATION AND RENDERING OF ADS BASED ON DETECTED FEATURES IN A WEB PAGE - Media and system are provided for customizing ads for delivery based on features in a web page. Text in a web page is evaluated to determine the sentiment of the web page. The sentiment can be based on the overall web page or on individual blocks of text within the web page. Based on the sentiment, an ad is created from the text in the web page. The resulting ad is rendered in the web page and shown to a user.

10-01-2009

20100036711

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAPPING SUBSCRIPTION FILTERS TO ADVERTISEMENT APPLICATIONS - A method and system for data delivery of targeted mobile advertisement, the method associating an advertising client with a data facade on a mobile device; passing a subscription filter for each advertising application on the mobile device from the advertising client to the data facade; receiving at the mobile device, a subscription identifier for each advertising application; mapping the subscription identifier to an advertising application; getting advertisements with subscription identifiers at the mobile device; communicating between an advertisement application and the advertising client to request an advertisement; and returning the advertisement to the advertising application.

02-11-2010

20100036713

COLLECTING PERSONAL DATA FROM A USER AND SHARING REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF THE PERSONAL DATA - In one embodiment a personal data portal is provided to collect personal data associated with a user. The personal data may be of interest to third parties such as marketers. The personal data may be generated through the normal use of personal data generation devices such as mobile phones, navigation systems, personal computers, payment transponders, etc. As such, the personal data may include physical locations visited by the user, virtual locations (websites) visited by the user, telephone numbers dialed by the user, payment transactions for the user, etc. Access to the collected personal data is provided to the third parties for a fee. Advantageously, at least a part of the fee may be shared with the user.

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRICING GUARANTEED DELIVERY CONTRACTS - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for pricing on-line advertisement inventory. In one embodiment, a method for pricing on-line advertisement inventory includes (i) forecasting a delivery cost for delivering a plurality of deliverable impressions to meet a guaranteed delivery contract for a particular advertising product; and (ii) determining a target price for a guaranteed delivery contract for such particular advertising product by adjusting the delivery cost based on one or more changes in one or more conditions of a supply and demand market.

04-22-2010

20100161377

EXPANDING A USER BASE FOR AN INFORMATION EXCHANGE SERVICE - A process for expanding a targeted service includes a subscription expansion application determining the information exchange services that an existing service user (ESU) uses. The application may then access the ESU's various contacts lists and/or address books to develop an initial list of prospective service users (PSUs). The ESU may specify which contact lists the application is authorized to access. The application may then filter the PSUs based on geographic availability of the targeted service. The application may then generate and send invitations to PSUs inviting PSUs to subscribe to the targeted service. The invitations may identify the ESU and may be sent electronically or by mail. The application may monitor new subscription requests attributable to an ESU's invitations. The ESU may be compensated by the service provider based on the number of new service requests. The compensation may include direct monetary compensation and/or reward points in an affinity program.

06-24-2010

20100161384

System and Method for Presenting Content - A computer-implemented system and method is disclosed and described for presenting content, including but not limited to, news content, to a computer-based System User in a converted audio and/or video presentation form. In more detail, the computer-implemented system and method is for gathering news content to substantially match a System User's (reader's) interests and converting this news content into high quality audio and video presentations for consumption by the System User.

06-24-2010

20100004978

Pooled Transaction System - A method of transacting sales over a computerized network correlates in a first database record the first product and the first purchaser to form a pool; further correlates a plurality of second purchasers; issues an offer to a vendor to purchase the first product at a first offer price; and consummates a transaction between the vendor and the first and second purchasers. A first commitment price is calculated in response to a time rate of the filling of the pool. The first commitment price may be responsive to historical sales performance of the first product; a price trend of an article similar to the first article; or a price trend of the first article itself over time. A second product desired to be purchased by a first purchaser is defined. An offer is made to a vendor to purchase the second product. A consolidated report is presented to the purchaser.

01-07-2010

20100004980

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING PRODUCT AND CONSUMER INFORMATION - Systems and methods for processing, sharing, and tracking information related to products. The systems and methods allow consumers, by way of a centralized information hub, to search for information about products and share that information with other consumers across multiple communication channels by utilizing one or more of multiple technology platforms. The systems and methods also allow consumers to share information about themselves with retailers and vendors across multiple communication channels by utilizing one or more of multiple technology platforms. The systems and methods enable retailers and vendors to share product information, such as promotional information and discount information, to consumers across multiple communication channels by utilizing one or more of multiple technology platforms. Embodiments of the present invention allow users to search, access, view and share product-related information via standard text/SMS messaging in a device-agnostic manner.

01-07-2010

20100004975

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEVERAGING PROXIMITY DATA IN A WEB-BASED SOCIALLY-ENABLED KNOWLEDGE NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for leveraging proximity data in a web-based socially-enabled information networking environment are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of semantic advertising via semantic profiles. One embodiment can include, receiving a model profile from an advertiser, enforcing a set of rules that govern accessibility of the web content, parsing the model profile to obtain a first set of model user metadata associated with the ideal set of user characteristics, comparing model user metadata of the first set of model user metadata with user metadata of a set of user metadata of a semantic user profile of a user, and generating a correlation index to indicate a degree of correlation between the model profile and the semantic user profile.

01-07-2010

20100004977

Method and System For Measuring User Experience For Interactive Activities - The present invention is directed to a method and system for measuring the biometric (physically, behaviorally, biologically and self-report based) responses of an audience to a presentation or interactive experience that provides a sensory stimulating experience and determining a measure of the level and pattern of engagement of that audience and impact of the presentation or interactive experience. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and system for measuring one or more biometrically based responses of one or more persons being exposed to the presentation in order to determine the moment-to-moment pattern or event based pattern and overall level of engagement. The method and system can include eye tracking to determine areas of the presentation that correspond to high and low levels of biometric responses suggesting high and low levels of visual impact. Further, the invention can be used to determine whether the presentation or the content in the presentation is more effective in a population relative to other presentations (or content) and other populations and to help identify elements of the presentation that contribute to the high level of engagement or impact and the effectiveness and success (or failure) of the presentation for that population.

01-07-2010

20100004974

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING WEIGHTED AVERAGE SUCCESS PROBABILITIES OF INTERNET ADVERTISEMENTS - A method and related system for determining the weighted average conversion (or click-through) probability (WACP) associated with an activity, such as an internet advertising bid activity. The method involves gathering information associated with prior actions relevant to future actions, such as bidding on internet advertisement placement, for example. The gathered information, such as clicks, impressions and conversions resulting from an advertisement placement, is used in an algorithm to calculate the WACP. The method may be carried out as part of a system including one or more computing devices and the execution of instructions embodied in computer-readable media. The algorithm may include the option of weighting the data used, such as by valuing recent data more than older data.

01-07-2010

20100114664

Method And System For Developing And Evaluating And Marketing Products Through Use Of Intellectual Capital Derivative Rights - Method and system for developing and marketing valuable products, advertisements, games and other creative realizations. The present invention relies on participants collectively taking stakes in the development of these realizations. Using databases of intellectual capital items, a promoter requests participant contributions that explore desired outcomes by relying on their knowledge and insights while evaluating, proposing or rating alternative items or making selections from proposed alternatives. Compilations, based on participants' contributions, are prepared by sorting and reassembling alternatives using valuation criteria. The intellectual capital valuation mechanism resembles collaborative auctions however, value is created by the adaptive and predictive ability of the present invention to coordinate submissions of knowledge and collective insights and to evaluate relative levels of insightfulness of intellectual capital contributions. Participants are offered contribution related rights as incentives. Participants are compensated according to the relative level of insightfulness of their contributions by timely exercising or selling these rights.

05-06-2010

20100114665

CUSTOMER REFERENCE GENERATOR - A system generates a customer reference recommendation based on similarity to other customers. The system includes a customer data file including demographic data and purchasing pattern data for a plurality of customers, a first cluster model trained on the demographic data, and a second cluster model trained on the purchasing pattern data. A customer reference generator produces a customer reference recommendation based on cluster membership in the first and second cluster models in response to a query from a user interface.

05-06-2010

20100114655

Systems and methods for association-based electronic message communication - A system for association-based electronic message communication is provided. The system contemplates including advertisement databases having a plurality of advertising content representing at least one tier of advertising. The system may also include a computer system communicatively coupled to the advertisement databases and to an input mechanism. The computer system may be configured to receive information indicative of an electronic message, one or more intended recipients of the electronic message, and supplemental content. The supplemental content may be advertising content selected from the advertising content in the advertisement databases. The computer system may be also configured to format an electronic shell including the electronic message and the selected advertising content such that the electronic message is displayed with the selected advertising content. The computer system may be also configured to transmit the electronic shell to the one or more intended recipients.

05-06-2010

20100114658

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A CONSISTENT HIERARCHY OF DECOMPOSITION OF A BUSINESS METRIC - Methods and apparatuses for computing an atomic decomposition level and a set of different decomposition levels based on the atomic decomposition level for a business metric are described. In one embodiment, the method accesses a response model and a first plurality of activities that are used to compute an atomic decomposition level. The atomic decomposition level is a base level of the set of different decomposition levels using different pluralities of activities. Furthermore, the set of different decompositions is consistent with the atomic decomposition level.

05-06-2010

20100114660

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING AN INFERENCE BASED ON CUMULATIVE DATA - A method for making an inference based on cumulative data. The method utilizes video, audio, and biometric devices to observe a retail environment for the presence of a customer. Once a customer is present, the method identifies every cohort to which the customer corresponds. Next, the method observes the customer as they peruse aisles in the retail environment. When the customer selects a product, the method identifies the selected product and searches the cohorts for alternate products to offer the customer. The method offers one alternate product to the customer and records to the cohorts whether the customer thereinafter accepts the method's offer and selects the alternate product or rejects the method's offer and continues perusing the retail environment aisles. The method continues observing the customer and offering alternate product until the customer leaves the retail environment.

05-06-2010

20100114648

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCORPORATING QUALITATIVE INPUTS INTO ECONOMETRIC MODELS - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for incorporating qualitative factors into an econometric model. Time series data describing the financial performance generated by corresponding marketing investments that are made as a function of time is provided to configure an econometric model. The econometric model includes linear coefficients that define a linear relationship between the financial performance and the corresponding marketing investments. The linear coefficients are adjusted in accordance with the qualitative factors received as inputs from experts, thereby enabling the qualitative factors to be quantified into the econometric model.

05-06-2010

20100023372

LINKED MOBILE BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING UNIT - A linked mobile business and advertising unit that can sell products, services, and/or publicity. A plurality of units, together with a control unit, can form a chain. The control unit can sell time and space for the publicity devices controlled by the units. It can run publicity campaigns selecting geographical zones, market segments, times, and dates, while measuring the effect on sales. It can remotely turn on/off publicity devices. The control unit can suggest new locations, optimize inventory levels, and centralize customer information and transaction history. The units don't require foundation and can install/uninstall themselves rapidly, leaving no trace. The units are self-sufficient in services such as water, electricity, gas and drain; and, have flexibility to use these services when available. The units can transform themselves to ease transportation, to optimize operation or to protect against vandalism. The units can be configured as drive-thru, drive-in, or drive-inside.

Determining Relative Effectiveness Of Media Content Items - The effectiveness of advertisements with respect to a group of panelists is measured. Based on the results of such analysis, advertisements and/or variants thereof are selected for presentation to consumers. Effectiveness of advertisements is measured, in one embodiment, by detecting exposure to advertisements, and then monitoring panelist behavior following exposure to an advertisement. In one embodiment, the group of panelists is a representative sample of a larger population, so that observations of panelist behavior can be used as a basis for making decisions regarding presentation of advertisements to a larger audience having characteristics similar to those of the panelists.

05-06-2010

20100106559

Configurable Trust Context Assignable to Facts and Associated Trust Metadata - An approach is provided for selecting a trust factor from trust factors that are included in a trust index repository. A trust metaphor is associated with the selected trust factor. The trust metaphor includes various context values. Range values are received and the trust metaphor, context values, and range values are associated with the selected trust factor. A request is received from a data consumer, the request corresponding to a trust factor metadata score that is associated with the selected trust factor. The trust factor metadata score is retrieved and matched with the range values. The matching results in one of the context values being selected based on the retrieved trust factor metadata score. The selected context value is then provided to the data consumer.

04-29-2010

20100106563

System and method for effectively performing a distribution procedure using an electronic backbone - A system and method for effectively performing an information distribution procedure includes user devices that perform registration procedures for receiving distribution services from a distribution system. The user devices are also used to generate user metadata regarding respective device users of the user devices. A plurality of workstations are associated in the distribution system with respective advertisers. The workstations analyze the user metadata to produce corresponding bid metadata. A bid server then evaluates the bid metadata to determine one or more winning workstations from among the original workstations. The one or more winning workstations automatically transmit their advertising information to appropriate ones of the user devices. Relevant advertising information is therefore specifically targeted toward individual device users by analyzing the user metadata.

04-29-2010

20100106562

USER-TARGETED CONTENT PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - According to one embodiment of the invention, a method is devised for tailoring downloaded content to the requesting user by upon receiving a message requesting content. The message includes information that provides information about a user requesting the content. Before receipt by the requesting user, the content is modified by inserting user-targeted information directly within the content. The user-targeted information is retrieved using the information. Thereafter, the modified content is transmitted to a device controlled by the requesting user.

04-29-2010

20100106560

Generating Composite Trust Value Scores Based on Assignable Priorities, Atomic Metadata Values and Associated Composite Trust Value Scores - An approach is provided in which atomic trust scores are computed using a atomic trust factors that are applied to a plurality of metadata. A first set of composite trust scores are computed using some of the atomic trust scores. The composite trust scores are computed using a first set of algorithms. Some of the algorithms use a factor weighting value as input to the algorithm. A second plurality of composite trust scores is computed using some of the composite trust scores that were included in the first set of scores as input. A fact and one of the second set of composite trust scores are presented to a user. The presented composite trust score provides a trustworthiness value that corresponds to the presented fact.

04-29-2010

20100106557

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING REPUTATION CHANGES - System and method for monitoring reputation changes via a reputation system are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving updated reputation information regarding a reputation of interest from a reputation information provider; evaluating the received updated reputation information in accordance with evaluation rules established for the reputation of interest; and providing a notification of results of the evaluating in accordance with notification rules established for the reputation of interest.

04-29-2010

20100106556

TIME-WEIGHTED AND SCALING OPTIMIZATION OF ALLOCATION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY - A method for scaling advertisement inventory allocation includes constructing a flow network of nodes having impressions connected to contracts through corresponding arcs such as to satisfy demand requests of the contracts; (a) for each of the contracts: determining a probability distribution over the nodes eligible to supply forecasted impressions to the contract; drawing a plurality of sample nodes from the probability distribution to form a multiset, O, of nodes; (b) for each of the nodes within O: determining a subset of the contracts, H, that can be satisfied by receiving forecasted impressions from the node; weighting a number of forecasted impressions of the node, as a function of the subset of contracts in H, with the probability distribution of the node; and optimally allocating forecasted impressions from each multiset, O, of sample nodes to each corresponding contract during the time period by solving the flow network with a minimum-cost network flow algorithm.

04-29-2010

20100106558

Trust Index Framework for Providing Data and Associated Trust Metadata - An approach is provided in which facts are received and then one or more atomic fact trust analyses are performed on the facts. The atomic fact trust analyses result in various atomic trust factor scores. Composite trust analysis is performed using the atomic trust factor scores. The composite trust analyses result in composite trust factor scores. The atomic trust factor scores and the composite trust factor scores are stored in a trust index repository that is managed by a trust index framework. A request is then received for trusted data, the request being from an information consumer. The trust index framework then retrieves one of the composite trust factor scores from the trust index repository, with the retrieved composite trust factor score corresponding to the trusted data request, and this the retrieved composite trust factor score is provided to the information consumer.

04-29-2010

20100100425

SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR MODELING A MONETARY MEASURE FOR A GOOD BASED UPON TECHNOLOGY MATURITY LEVELS - A systems, methods and computer program products are provided for modeling a monetary measure of a good, such as a cost or revenue associated with the good. A method begins by selecting at least one qualitative measure of maturity for at least one technology associated with the good, where each qualitative measure of maturity is associated with a distribution such that each technology is correspondingly associated with a distribution. Next, a monetary point is associated with each technology, and thereafter a monetary distribution is determined for each technology based upon a respective monetary point and a respective distribution. A plurality of monetary values are selected by randomly selecting the plurality of monetary values for each technology based upon a respective monetary distribution. Finally, the monetary measure for the good are modeled based upon the selected monetary values for each technology.

04-22-2010

20100030618

System and method for visualizing a marketing strategy - A system and method for visualizing a marketing strategy and its effects on a marketplace are disclosed. Using the system or method, an organization can visualize its marketing strategy in a way that links the original creative intent of the marketing strategy with the marketing strategy's effects upon a marketplace. The method and system enable the organization to evaluate the effectiveness of not only its marketing strategy, but of the creative process that led to the marketing strategy's development. The method and system employ representations of creative aspects of the marketing strategy and representations of effects of the marketing strategy on the marketplace, and present, via a graphical user interface, a user-interactive, creative-aspects-based structure, along with the representations of the effects of the marketing strategy, in a manner enabling interaction with the representations of the creative aspects and the effects on the marketplace.

02-04-2010

20100057526

CONTENT DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM - A system is adapted to manage the distribution of content to one or more cooperating media/substrates. The system receives data representative of environment conditions for one or more cooperating media/substrates adapted to display digital content. The media/substrates may be located in public spaces. The system compares the received data representative of environment conditions with selection criteria to identify content for distribution to the media/substrates. The selected content is distributed to the one or more cooperating media/substrates.

03-04-2010

20100023375

Fair Allocation of Overlapping Inventory - Methods and apparatus for allocating inventory are disclosed. The system may maintain a plurality of inventory pools of impressions that are projected to be available during a time period, each of the plurality of inventory pools having a corresponding set of attributes. The system may receive a plurality of requests from advertisers, each of the plurality of requests requesting a number of impressions during the time period that satisfy a corresponding demand profile, the demand profile having a corresponding set of attributes. The system may allocate impressions in the plurality of inventory pools to the plurality of requests by balancing an interest of a seller of the impressions to maximize value of remaining inventory in the plurality of inventory pools against an interest of the advertisers in allocating a representative sample of impressions in each of the plurality of inventory pools that satisfy the demand profile for each of the plurality of requests.

01-28-2010

20100063868

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETING RETAIL INVESTOR COMMUNICATIONS - Real time market surveillance systems and methods are described that provide or timely communicate actionable intelligence to market investors. The system and methods employ Internet-based surveillance and push technologies to survey multiple market intelligence sources and engage in market analytics to provide updated, actionable intelligence to assist and enhance transactional decisions by market investors.

CUSTOMER-SPECIFIC MERCHANDISING PROGRAM - The invention is directed to facilitating the planning and ordering of a merchandising unit and associated products. A merchandising unit planning screen is presented that displays a representation of a merchandising unit having holders for holding and displaying the products. A product menu is provided for each holder to allow selection of a product from a set of products for each respective holder. Available choices in the product menu of at least one holder are constraining to a subset of the set of products based on predetermined criteria. For each holder for which a product has been selected, a product quantity is determined based on a capacity of the respective holder. An order is generated based on the selected products.

02-11-2010

20100036712

Method of and system for capturing data - In one embodiment of the invention, a company could create a system whereby individual job seekers voluntarily enter their own career history information as well as their implicit preference information. In addition to these job-seeker entered profiles, a company could create technology to aggregate job listings from multiple sources. In turn a company could create a “standard application” interface wherein job seekers could apply to jobs at many different destination organizations using their pre-established profile. In this way the company could capture information about what jobs candidates were applying for. The company could leverage this information to make higher quality matches between people and jobs, both in terms of recommending jobs for candidates as well as candidates for jobs, providing the underlying data to enable the company to charge for data offerings, and to enable the company to employ matching techniques of the invention to find highly desirable candidates.

02-11-2010

20090327048

Forecasting Discovery Costs Based on Complex and Incomplete Facts - The discovery cost forecasting system uses incomplete information to generate forecasts of discovery expenses. Models are generated with different levels of granularity depending upon the available facts and user preferences. An expert provides real-time information to improve the accuracy of the predictions. A scenario analysis is generated that evaluates how changes to the parameters of the matter could affect the forecasted cost. An estimate is generated of the degree of advancement of the matter in its lifecycle as part of the cost forecast. The cost associated with each data source and custodian is tracked and reported. A configurable and extensible cost equation is defined. A dashboard user interface is generated to monitor the entire portfolio to extract easy to understand facts, trends, and early warning signs related to discovery cost management.

Facilitating compensation arrangements having privacy preservation aspects - Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of maintaining an anonymity of at least one of the data provider or the data consumer with respect to another of the data provider or the data consumer, are described.

12-31-2009

20090327039

Network based procurement and sourcing method - A method for enhancing the procurement processes and sourcing strategy options of an organization, including registering purchase item data, supply item data, demand market data, and supply market data, and generating one or more suggested procurement and sourcing strategies using a power and leverage positioning methodology. The method provides a recommended level of analysis with respect to the criticality of the purchase items to generate suggested procurement and sourcing strategies. A method for developing the competence of the staff of an organization in the management of a procurement process, having a plurality of steps for the selection of procurement and sourcing strategies pre-contractually and for managing supplier performance post-contractually is also disclosed.

12-31-2009

20090327038

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - The present subject matter provides methods of electronic commerce comprising generating an online catalog of items, collecting consumer interest data for online catalog items using consumer initiated selections of the item from a dedicated web site, aggregating the consumer interest data in a database, determining a demand forecast for the item the consumer interest data, electronically receiving supplier bids to supply the demand forecast, electronically receiving contingent buyer commitments in response to an accepted supplier bid; and closing commerce in the item. Additional examples include monitoring a supplier's return inventory using an inventory management system to develop electronic commerce.

12-31-2009

20090327034

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - The present subject matter provides methods of electronic commerce comprising generating an online catalog of items, collecting consumer interest data for online catalog items using consumer initiated selections of the item from a dedicated web site, aggregating the consumer interest data in a database, determining a demand forecast for the item the consumer interest data, electronically receiving supplier bids to supply the demand forecast, electronically receiving contingent buyer commitments in response to an accepted supplier bid; and closing commerce in the item. Additional examples include monitoring a supplier's return inventory using an inventory management system to develop electronic commerce.

12-31-2009

20090327033

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FORECASTING INVENTORY LEVELS IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - A method of maintaining an inventory of a consumable in a production environment may include identifying a demand distribution for a consumable in a production environment, identifying a lead time period for replenishing the consumable and selecting, from a plurality of candidate parameters, a control parameter that is a function of total inventory management cost so that the selected control parameter corresponds to a lowest determined total inventory management cost. The method may also include using a forecasting model to automatically forecast a total future demand value for the consumable based on the demand distribution, the lead time period and a standard error of forecasting adjusted by the selected control parameter, determining whether additional inventory is needed based on at least the total forecasted future demand value and an inventory position and, if additional inventory is needed, generating an order for the consumable.

12-31-2009

20090327030

Systems and Methods for Creating an Index to Measure a Performance of Digital Ads as Defined by an Advertiser - Systems and methods for utilizing a performance index measuring a performance of an object as defined by an advertiser are disclosed. Generally, an ad campaign optimizer receives one or more values associated with events that result from marketing activities associated with one or more objects. The ad campaign optimizer calculates a performance index associated with an object of the one or more objects, wherein the performance index measures a performance of the object based on the received one or more values. The ad campaign optimizer then optimizes a digital ad based on the calculated performance index.

12-31-2009

20090327029

Systems and Methods for Utilizing Normalized Impressions To Optimize Digital Ads - Systems and methods for utilizing normalized impressions to optimize digital ads are disclosed. In one implementation, a forecast for a performance of a digital ad is generated. An optimal placement associated with a webpage is identified with respect to at least a first factor. A discount factor for a first placement associated with the webpage is computed with respect to the optimal placement and a forecasted number of impressions associated with the digital ad is normalized based at least in part on the discount factor associated with the first placement. A media plan for the digital ad is generated based at least in part on the normalized impressions associated with the digital ad and the digital ad is served based on the generated media plan.

12-31-2009

20090327026

Method for Providing Custom Profile Analysis in a Demographic Information System - A method of providing demographic visitor information to a participating web site including registering a user with an information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system solicits personal information from the user and wherein the information gathering system maintains a profile for the registered user; detecting a visit of the registered user to a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system; and providing a demographic information report to the participating web site, wherein the demographic information report is related to at least one registered user who has visited the participating web site.

12-31-2009

20100161383

PROFIT OPTIMIZER - A system and method for analyzing the profitability of a company's products and services and then maximizing that profit is provided. A contribution margin per unit

06-24-2010

20100082400

SCORING CLICKS FOR CLICK FRAUD PREVENTION - Machine learning techniques are employed to build and evolve classifiers (e.g., decision trees or other rule-based classifiers) which generate scores representing confidence values associated with particular paths through a classifier (rather than discrete class labels), and then compare those scores to tunable thresholds to effect classification.

04-01-2010

20110066471

DATA MATCHING AND SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN TWO APPLICATIONS - The invention relates to a method of data matching and synchronization between two applications using at least one management server and a client. The method includes a step of judging whether a sales opportunity in a customer relationship management service is associated with a folder in the document storage service and creating a new folder, obtaining folder identification information, and associating the sales opportunity with the new folder. Also included in the method are steps of creating a new sub-folder in the new folder, the new sub-folder corresponding to a category associated with the sales opportunity, uploading a file associated with the category and the sales opportunity and storing the uploaded file in the new sub-folder.

03-17-2011

20100121682

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORECASTING AND PAIRING ADVERTISING WITH POPULAR WEB-BASED MEDIA - A system and method for identifying whether certain web-based media or web-based videos are likely to become popular is provided. Videos that are identified as having a strong likelihood of becoming popular with a particular demographic group are paired to advertisements or other media appropriate for the particular demographic group. Videos that are likely to be popular are identified by measuring early input rates such as request rates, replay rates, comment rates, forwarding rates and reply rates. Input rate patterns including pattern segments correlated to inputs from a particular demographic group are identified.

05-13-2010

20100121677

BUSINESS PARTNER COLLABORATION AND BUY ANALYSIS - The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for implementing an automated inventory replenishment process between a manufacturer and a business partner. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided comprising the business partner purchasing and maintaining an inventory of goods from the manufacturer, and the manufacturer providing price protection to the business partner for the purchasing of the goods. This embodiment further comprises managing said inventory by using an automated process that takes into account said price protection for the purchasing of the goods.

05-13-2010

20100121676

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOGGING IMPRESSIONS OF ONLINE ADVERTISMENTS - A system and method which may log a real number of views or impressions of an element within a web page, e.g., an advertisement. Instead of sending impression data to an impression logging unit by a web page server when an element is included in a web page, the invention may collect impression data at a user terminal and send the impression data to the impression logging unit when the element actually appears within a user's view port, which is the visible area of his browser window. Consequently, only what is actually seen by users, not everything that could be seen on a web page, may be logged by the impression logging unit.

05-13-2010

20100088160

Automatic Learning for Mapping Spoken/Text Descriptions of Products onto Available Products - A method, processing device, and machine-readable medium are provided. Costs of states of a state space are calculated. Each state represent one or more available product attributes having zero or more decided attribute values. The calculating is based, at least in part, on training data associated with previously requested and offered products. Determining a next state such that one or more products are available and a sum of values, including a cost of a next state and a cost of a perturbation of one of the one or more requested product attribute values to reach the next state is a minimum value. A value for a product attribute is mapped according to the minimum sum of values and product attribute values of available products.

04-08-2010

20100121683

System and Method of Scenario Versioning - A system and method is disclosed for scenario management. The system includes a database configured to store data describing a plurality of scenarios, each scenario comprising one or more fields and data describing the supply chain network comprising a plurality of network components, each network component configured to supply one or more items to satisfy demand. The system further includes a server coupled with the database; the server accesses the data describing the plurality of scenarios and accesses the data describing the supply chain network. The server further traverses the one or more fields of the plurality of scenarios until a value is determined and stores the determined value in the database for each of the one or more fields of the plurality of scenarios.

05-13-2010

20100121681

Method and System of Contextual Advertising - A method of advertising using a user profile based on a user's interaction with websites, including the time spent on the website and the user's rating of keywords associated with the contents of the website.

05-13-2010

20100088156

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SURVEYING MOBILE DEVICE USERS - A system and method for delivering surveys to mobile device users. Surveys are delivered to mobile device users based on the user's participation in a survey group. The surveys may be delivered with media such as a song, movie, television, or other video or audio clip asking the user to rate or provide feedback on the media. A method of providing a survey to communication devices includes receiving, at a server, a survey from a survey provider, defining, at the server, a survey group from a group of users, the survey group being defined by a topic in the survey, transmitting the survey from the server to a plurality of communication devices corresponding to the survey group, displaying the survey on each of the plurality of communication devices corresponding to the survey group, and transmitting survey responses from at least one of the plurality of communication devices to the server.

04-08-2010

20100088148

SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR RECOMMENDING PURCHASES FOR A SHOPPING INTENT - Techniques are disclosed for optimizing shopping. In one aspect, purchase items are recommended to a user based on the total purchasing costs of the recommended purchase items. In one embodiment, the total purchase cost includes not just the price of the purchase item but also includes weighted costs based on non-price purchasing cost factors. In another aspect, data is maintained that represents social relationships between members of a network of users and purchase recommendations are made to a user based on the relatedness between the user, the item and the other members of the network. In yet another aspect, purchase recommendations are made based on the best time to purchase a purchase item. In another aspect, item retailers can offer purchase item incentives to users based on the identity of and information about the shopper to whom the incentive is offered including bundling incentives in a unified redemption code.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING AND IMPROVING INTERNET VISIBILITY - Method and system for tracking web presence of marketing topics. Input identifying a marketing topic is received. Benchmark is identified against which web presence of the marketing topic is to be compared. One or more web channels are identified for basis of comparison of the web presence of the marketing topic against web presence of the benchmark. A plurality of web pages containing information related to the marketing topic available on computers connected to the Internet are discovered and classified. A plurality of web pages containing information related to the benchmark available on computers connected to the Internet are discovered and classified. Comparison between the web pages related to the marketing topic and the web pages related to the benchmark is provided on the basis of distribution across the one or more web channels.

02-18-2010

20100042464

Method and Apparatus for Guaranteed Delivery of Ads on an Exchange - A method and apparatus are provided for guaranteed delivery of ads on an exchange. In one example, the method includes determining all valid paths originating from a buyer and ending at one or more sellers, applying one or more controls to the valid paths in order to trim the valid paths according to criteria of the one or more controls, determining available inventory including available spots on web pages of sellers, and making ad reservations for the buyer based on the available inventory and the valid paths.

MULTI-STRATEGY GENERATION OF PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS - Techniques are described for dynamically generating recommendations for users, such as for products and other items. In at least some situations, the techniques include using multiple recommendation strategies, such as by aggregating recommendation results from multiple different recommendation strategies. Such recommendation strategies may have various forms, and may be based at least in part on data regarding prior interactions of numerous users with numerous items. In addition, information about current selections of a particular user may be gathered based at least in part on providing a GUI (“graphical user interface”) for display to the user that includes selectable information about numerous recommended items, and dynamically updating the displayed GUI with newly generated recommendations of items as the user makes selections of particular displayed recommended items (e.g., newly generated recommendations that are similar to the selected items in one or more manners, or are otherwise related to the selected items).

09-30-2010

20100131335

USER INTEREST MINING METHOD BASED ON USER BEHAVIOR SENSED IN MOBILE DEVICE - A method and apparatus for modeling interests of a user based on the user's behavior and surrounding information, according to information sensed in a mobile terminal, are provided. User interest information is extracted from a mobile terminal use record of the user, situation information of the user is extracted from the mobile terminal, and user interest in a corresponding situation is modeled based on the obtained interest information and situation information.

05-27-2010

20100153182

PRODUCT ADVERTISING AND SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION - A method, apparatus and system are provided that enable an advertising supply chain and product supply chain to inter-communicate and integrate media content advertising with product supply to optimize the effectiveness of out-of-home advertising and ensure the availability of advertised products. As a result, the effectiveness of retail media programs will be enhanced with processes and tools that coordinate and/or integrate the delivery to and presentation of product specific media and the delivery to and presentation of the products themselves on location.

06-17-2010

20090319339

System for evaluating customer loyalty - The present invention discloses a system and a method for evaluating customer loyalty. The system evaluates customer loyalty by calculating a satisfaction rating which is based on the customers' initial perception and actual experience of buying a product and/or service.

12-24-2009

20090319337

Optical product network via Internet - An optical product network includes a plurality of product provider stations for a plurality of wholesalers and/or manufacturers jointing therewith, a plurality of sale stations for a plurality of retailers and/or exclusive venders joining therewith, and a management system forming a network bridge to link the product provider stations with the sale stations via Internet, wherein the management system manages a purchasing order from each of the sale stations for requesting an optical product from at least one of the wholesalers in a quantity manner, such that the management system is adapted for effectively managing the optical products to maximize a mutual benefit and collaboration between the wholesalers and the retailers in a quality and quantity manner.

12-24-2009

20090319336

DIAMOND VALUATION METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM PRODUCT - Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for evaluating a diamond comprising the steps of selecting a diamond to value, determining the shape, size, color, clarity and cut of the selected diamond, determining a base price of the selected diamond, calculating the applicable discounts/premium for the parameters of the selected diamond, calculating a weightage for each parameter of the selected diamond for which a discount/premium is calculated, calculating a total adjusted price based on the discount/premium determined, the weightage determined and the base price determined in step d, and outputting the calculated total adjusted price. Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the discounts/premium applicable to each parameter for a diamond—by selecting records of a given shape, size, color, clarity and cut—where the corresponding parameters are equal or within a specified small range, with the exception of parameter i and then determining the average sales price Y for a diamond for the ideal value V(0) of the selected parameter i, determining an average price Y(i) for a diamond with the selected parameter value of V(i), calculating a discount/premium D(i) of the selected diamond using the formula D(i)=(Y−Y(i))/Y, and repeating for each additional parameter V(i) determined. Further, the discount/premium with respect to the base/standard/index diamond, D′(i) is calculated as D′(i)=[D(i)−D(I)]/[1−D(I)] where D(I) is the discount/premium of the base/standard/index diamond. Further it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the weightage for each parameter of the selected diamond by regression analysis for each parameter i.

12-24-2009

20090319334

INTEGRATING ENTERPRISE DATA AND SYNDICATED DATA - Enterprise data and syndicated data can be integrated by obtaining enterprise data, obtaining syndicated data from a syndicated data provider, performing various processing on the enterprise and syndicated data such as recast processing, fringe compensation, event identification, and/or event matching, and outputting results. A data integration framework for integrating enterprise data, syndicated data, and/or unstructured data can be provided. The framework can comprise a plurality of data extractors and a data integration module. The data integration module can be configured to perform syndicated data recast processing on the syndicated data, perform fringe compensation processing on the syndicated data, identify consumption events in the processed syndicated data, and match shipment events to consumption events. Results of the matching can be stored and reported.

12-24-2009

20090319333

ESTIMATING ADVERTISING PRICES FOR AN INCUMBENT CONTENT PROVIDER - Computer-readable media and a computer system for correcting bid estimates that are calculated from stored data encompassing an incumbent customer's participation in a keyword auction are provided. Initially, input criteria is received, which includes customer-history data and a candidate position, within a ranking of incumbent customers competing to display an advertisement, that is attractive to the incumbent customer. A corrected rank model of the competing incumbent customers' ranking is generated, which effectively discounts the stored data related to the incumbent content provider. The corrected rank model is utilized to predict an adjusted average position of the incumbent content provider, within the ranking of the competing incumbent customers, without physically extracting stored data associated therewith. A corrected price model that ignores the influence of the incumbent customer's participation in the advertising auction is then constructed. This corrected price model and the candidate position facilitate predicting the corrected bid estimate.

12-24-2009

20090319331

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO RESPOND TO RECALLS - Methods and apparatus to respond to recalls are disclosed. An example method includes receiving product recall information and generating at least one store cohort based on the received product recall information to represent a plurality of stores spatially arranged based on relative similarities to at least one channel. The example method also includes generating at least one ranked list of contact information based on the at least one store cohort, and disseminating the received product recall information to an entity associated with the contact information.

12-24-2009

20090319329

USER PROFILE GENERATION ARCHITECTURE FOR MOBILE CONTENT-MESSAGE TARGETING - A targeted-content-message-related profile for use with wireless access terminals (W-ATs) may be generated by one or more usage-related rules on the W-AT itself. The usage generate rules may be used by the W-AT to generate a user profile, with the usage-related rule providing a dynamic property to the user profile. All or part of the user profile may then be used as a targeted-content-message-related profile for targeting content messages.

12-24-2009

20100161382

Content management - A content management system can have one or more of an aggregation engine, a survey engine, a polling engine, an apparent-interest engine, an explicit-interest engine, and a results processing engine.

06-24-2010

20100145770

Methods and Systems of Performing Marketing and Market Research - Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include a method of performing marketing and market research. In some embodiments, the method includes the following: observing a consumer using at least one of a product and a service, thereby creating data; analyzing behaviors of the consumer using the product or service by reviewing and coding the data, according to a predefined dictionary of terms thereby generating research data; interviewing the consumer thereby generating additional research data; entering the research data and the additional research data into a database; mining and analyzing the database to link the behaviors of the consumer with potential business implications, thereby generating findings; and reporting findings.

06-10-2010

20100145767

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING A CONTRACT - Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for analyzing a contract. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for estimating a contract's profitability and risk exposure using various contract terms, potential cash flows, and pricing strategies can be provided. By estimating the contract's profitability and risk exposure across a variety of conditions, a valuation-risk profile is determined and can be presented to a user. The valuation-risk profile provides an objective value of any particular contract component and a quantitative framework for negotiation purposes. In addition, the valuation-risk profile can be used as part of a larger strategic plan, for risk assessment, and for general decision-making.

06-10-2010

20100145763

Systems, methods and apparatus for valuation and tailoring of advertising - A system and method classifies advertising based on referencable attributes. An individual advertisement is classified by predefined referencable attributes. The advertisement and the predefined referencable attributes are linked using alphanumeric or digital codes. The advertisement and the linked codes are stored such that the advertisement and linked codes are accessible by a user.

06-10-2010

20100145765

Methods and Systems for Conducting Research on an Airplane - This invention relates to methods and systems for conducting market research, product research, or advertising research. More particularly, travelers are presented with a product and asked to provide feedback regarding the product by completing a survey. Answers to the survey are entered via an input device. Survey answer data is stored in a storage device along with demographic information relating to the traveler and the data is stored. In exchange for completing product research travelers may receive carrier specific rewards or a discount on the cost of travel. Data collected from travelers is collected and sold to corporate sponsors.

06-10-2010

20100145766

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PARTICIPATORY MEDIA CONTENT - A method and apparatus for providing participatory media content to a customer via a network are disclosed. For example, a method receives a request for a first content from a customer, and determines if the customer is associated with a service that provides a participatory media content. The method then selects one or more participatory media content for the customer, if the customer is associated with the service; and provides the customer with the one or more participatory media content and the requested first content.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING SALES OF ITEM LISTINGS - A method and a system are disclosed for predicting sales of item listings on a network-based system. For example, historical transaction data generated by the network-based system is accessed to create a prediction model. A feature predictive of an item being sold through the network-based system is selected. A training set is created by extracting the predictive feature from the historical transaction data. The prediction model is trained based on the training data set to predict the probability of an item listing being sold through the network-based system. The prediction model is used to rank search results, and the search results can be presented through the network-based system.

01-06-2011

20110004508

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF GENERATING GUIDANCE INFORMATION - One embodiment provides a system for generating questions related to product aspects. The system may comprise: a product review analyzer to extract product values associated with the products from product reviews, in which the product values may include product categories, product aspects and product aspect evaluations; a product review summary builder to build product review summaries based on the extracted product values associated with the products; and a question generator to generate a set of questions regarding the product aspects based on the product review summaries.

01-06-2011

20110004507

Parking Facility Resource Management - Technologies are generally described for an information system configured to manage parking facility resources. The system can create and apply models and profiles regarding customers, parking space usage, access patterns, events, traffic, and other factors related to the parking facility. Parking facility operators may use the models to seek optimized revenues or profits. Increased revenue for parking facility operators may be supported by allocating resources to longer staying and better paying customers. New opportunities such as reselling, auctions, or options may further improve revenue generation for parking facilities. Customers may interface with the information system for availability queries, interactive reservation, and various other functions that may improve convenience, security, privacy, and service quality for the customers as well as for neighboring businesses and venues. Improved efficiency in parking facility resource consumption may reduce street traffic congestion. Parking security may be improved by adaptive lighting and camera operation.

01-06-2011

20110004505

METHODS OF MEDIA ASSET DISTRIBUTION BY EMPLOYING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A method is disclosed for distributing media assets by employing a new electronic apparatus. Selected media assets are pre-loaded to the apparatus based upon a targeted user's personal profile. The operation of “pre-loading” may be conducted at a manufacturing site or at a point of sales. The selected assets are encoded. The user may purchase a pre-loaded asset through a pre-paid credit system or through an on-line payment facility. The purchased asset may be decoded based upon a public/private key method. The invention is characterized by that the storage system of the electronic apparatus is managed by a software module. Each pre-loaded media asset is assigned to a priority in a sequential manner. The lower priority assets are deleted, in a manner un-notified to the user, when the storage capacity is required as a result of the user's operation of the apparatus.

01-06-2011

20110004504

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCORING A PLURALITY OF WEB PAGES ACCORDING TO BRAND REPUTATION - Systems and methods taught herein provide an objective scoring mechanism based at least in part on a brand reputation of an organization owning a web page. In one aspect, brand reputation information is used to assign a score to a web page indicating the page's trustworthiness. Thus, rather than determining trustworthiness only from the intrinsic content of the web page, or from extrinsic relationships between web pages, a user may be provided with an indication of trustworthiness from at least one brand reputation metric of the organization that makes the web page available.

01-06-2011

20100161379

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PREDICTING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR FROM TRANSACTION CARD PURCHASES - A computer-based method for predicting consumer behavior is provided. The method is performed using a computer system coupled to a database. The method includes recording consumer data in the database for each consumer of a global population of consumers including historical purchases made by each consumer using a transaction card, defining a life event by assigning spending variables to the life event, determining a sample group of consumers that are experiencing the life event based on the consumer data stored within the database with respect to the spending variables, generating a predictive model based on historical purchases made by consumers within the sample group, and applying the predictive model to predict each consumer within the global population that will experience the life event. The predictive model is applied using the computer system. A list of consumers predicted to experience the life event within a predetermined time period is output.

06-24-2010

20100161387

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY OF DATA FILES USING SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORKS - An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. In one embodiment, data files are transmitted on behalf of a third party using one or more service provider networks. In an exemplary embodiment, the third party contracts with the sending system to transmit the data files using the service provider networks to transmit data files to customers of the respective service provider networks. The data file is transmitted as a plurality of segments and transmitted in such a way so as to prevent congestion in the respective service provider networks.

06-24-2010

20100161378

System and Method for Retargeting Advertisements Based on Previously Captured Relevance Data - Methods for selecting one or more advertisements based on previously captured relevance data to serve to a client system requesting a primary webpage is provided. The client displays a referring webpage having a hyperlink to the primary webpage. Upon selection of the hyperlink, the client sends a request to a content server storing the primary webpage. The content server classifies the primary webpage for content and retrieves persistent relevance information, possibly including a referrer of the primary webpage comprising a URL address of the referring webpage, a listing of other recently visited webpages, a listing of any bid phrases from previously displayed advertisements, and a listing of recent click data. The content server sends the primary webpage to the client, which includes an advertisement server request. The transaction between the content server and the advertisement server includes persistence relevance information to select advertisements to serve to the client.

06-24-2010

20100153187

DETERMINATION OF A PROFILE OF AN ENTITY BASED ON PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS - Relative to a given product or products, one or more attributes and, for each attribute, a plurality of possible attribute values, are defined. For a given product and attribute, one or more descriptions of the product are obtained and analyzed to determine the correspondence of the description(s), and hence the product itself, to each of the plurality of possible attribute values. In one embodiment, this analysis is based on previously-labeled training data. A knowledge base can be populated with information identifying the products and their correspondence to the plurality of possible attribute values for each attribute. This technique may be used to develop a profile of an entity, which in turn may be used to develop appropriate marketing messages or recommendations for other products.

06-17-2010

20100161386

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RISK MANAGEMENT OF SPORTS-ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES - This invention provides risk management systems and methods for enterprises associated with a wide variety of sports activities, e.g., sports having individual athlete participants as well as sports having team participants; sports activities having regional, national, or international scope; professional and non-professional sports activities; and so forth. In preferred embodiments, the systems and methods of this invention derive models of the economic values and of associated economic risks of particular sports activities and provide indices reflecting model computations. In further preferred embodiments, the system and method of this invention provide financial instruments having values that derive from one of the provided indices, index computing systems, and exchange or trading platform systems by which such derivative contacts can be valued and traded.

06-24-2010

20100161388

DETERMINING A DEMAND FUNCTION FOR AN ITEM - An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for determining a demand function for an item. For example, the method includes determining a first estimate of the demand function for the item by utilizing a first auction having a first set of auction parameters. Additionally, the method includes determining a second estimate of the demand function for the item by utilizing a second auction using auction data from the first auction. The second auction has a second set of auction parameters based on the first estimate of the demand function.

06-24-2010

20100161375

System and Method of Presenting an Asset Bundle Offer - A method includes identifying an asset bundle including a plurality of assets of different asset types. The method includes identifying devices that are capable of using the plurality of assets. The devices are associated with a subscriber. The method includes presenting an offer to sell the asset bundle to a first device associated with the subscriber based on asset types of the plurality of assets and based on a device type of the first device.

06-24-2010

20100161381

SEMANTICS-BASED INTERESTS IN COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS AND SYSTEMS - An input situation can be represented by at least a first context variable. Data that includes interest values for multiple context variables can be provided and obtained. The obtained data can include a first data pertaining to the input situation and a second data pertaining to one or more other situations. It can be determined whether the first context variable is associated with a discrete range of values or a continuous range of values. At least a portion of data pertaining to the situations can be determined to be proximate data when the first context variable is associated with a continuous range of values. Based on the input situation and the proximate data, an interest value for the first input situation can be determined as a prediction of the interest in the input situation.

06-24-2010

20100161376

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AND USING TRADE AREAS - Methods and systems are provided for determining and using market areas associated with one or more branches of a business. Market areas are determined using a combination of deterministic and probabilistic techniques. Distances are calculated between customers and associated branches and a convex hull formed containing the closest 60%. A block and a tightened block is formed of dissemination areas contained within the convex hull. Where blocks are shared between branches, dissemination areas are weighted according to the portion of customers associated with each branch.

06-24-2010

20100049587

System and Method for Using Lifecycle Telecommunications Expense Management (TEM) Data to Predict the Outcome of Changes to Telecommunications Infrastructure - In some embodiments, a method includes calculating costs associated with migration from a telecommunications infrastructure in a first configuration to the telecommunications infrastructure in a second configuration. The migration is based on a first infrastructure data and a second infrastructure data. The first infrastructure data is associated with the telecommunications infrastructure in the first configuration and the second infrastructure data is associated with the telecommunications infrastructure in the second configuration. A predictive migration model is generated based on the calculated costs, the first infrastructure data, and the second infrastructure data.

02-25-2010

20100185491

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPARING ALTERNATIVE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OFFERINGS - In embodiments of the invention, a method for comparing savings account offerings based on a user's savings account data includes collecting savings account usage data for a user's current savings account using a computer implemented facility, analyzing the savings account usage data to obtain a normalized savings account usage dataset, normalizing data related to a plurality of alternative savings account offerings according to a normalized alternative savings account offering model, applying the normalized alternative savings account offering model to the normalized savings account usage dataset to produce a plurality of alternative savings account offering normalized datasets. and comparing the alternative savings account offering normalized datasets to the normalized savings account usage dataset to determine if an alternative savings account offering is better than the user's current savings account. Related user interfaces, applications, and computer program products are disclosed.

07-22-2010

20100185490

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPARING ALTERNATIVE WIRELESS SERVICE OFFERINGS - In embodiments of the invention, a method for comparing wireless service plans based on a user's usage data includes collecting wireless service usage data for a user's current wireless service using a computer implemented facility, analyzing the wireless service usage data to obtain a normalized wireless service usage dataset, normalizing data related to a plurality of alternative wireless service offerings according to a normalized alternative wireless service offering model, applying the normalized alternative wireless service offering model to the normalized wireless usage dataset to produce a plurality of alternative wireless service offering normalized datasets, and comparing the alternative wireless service offering normalized datasets to the normalized wireless service usage dataset to determine if an alternative wireless service offering is better than the user's current wireless service. Related user interfaces, applications, and computer program products are disclosed.

07-22-2010

20100185497

AUTOMOTIVE CORE FULFILLMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for facilitating acquisition of automotive core parts from automotive recyclers for remanufacture includes identifying automotive cores and determining the value of the cores with a core fulfillment system. The core fulfillment system includes an interchange database with automotive core descriptions and corresponding interchange identification indicators. The system includes a core supplier database that includes automotive core descriptions with corresponding core supplier identification indicators and an interchange number matching module that equates database entries in the interchange database with database entries in the core supplier database. An interface module provides access to the core fulfillment system, accepts vehicle information, and provides demand and pricing information regarding automotive cores. Vehicle information is received and compared to automotive core descriptions, automotive interchange numbers, and core supplier identification indicators that correspond to the vehicle identification information. Automotive cores are identified based upon the comparison, and a core value is determined.

Widget Development Tool - In an interactive television system, a proposal widget may be included which enables users to submit proposed widgets. Other users may comment on the proposed widgets and the proposal widget may also be used to enable users to see the results of deliberations about the proposed widgets.

07-01-2010

20100161380

RATING-BASED INTERESTS IN COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS AND SYSTEMS - An interest in an object of interest in a given situation can be determined by determining multiple sets of probability values for specific interest levels. Each set of probability values includes a probability that a specific interest level occurs in a situation represented by a plurality of context variables each having a plurality of possible context values. Input context values are then obtained. The relevance of each one of the sets of probability values to the input context values can be determined in order to determine a projected interest level.

06-24-2010

20100145771

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICE OR ADDING BENEFIT TO SOCIAL NETWORKS - A system and method for enhancing the revenue and/or efficiency of a network service is disclosed. The system constructs a graph of a social network in which users are capable of two-way communication with other users, the network service provider, or other entities such as advertisers. Using such methods as social VIP ranking, the system is capable of performing a variety of analyses, the results of which provide the network service provider insights on how to best perform such tasks as monitoring and enhancing campaign effectiveness, identify fraud, optimize resource allocation and ensure the quality of network management.

06-10-2010

20100145772

System and Method for Analyzing Customer Segments - The present invention relates to a system and method for customer segment analysis. The system receives customer transaction data for the generation of segments, including point of sales data and customer identification information. Errors in the data may be resolved. Then, individual customers may be segmented by statistically relevant groups. The segmentation of consumers may be accomplished by comparing data of known customers to known segments. Unknown customers, new customers and point of sales data which is missing customer data may also be segmented via statistical similarity to known segments. Using the customer segments, segment wide point of sale data may be generated. This data may then be aggregated by consumer groups. Consumer groups may include by household or other communal purchasing entity. The aggregated segment data may be validated and transformed for outputting to the optimization system. The price optimization system may the use the segment data for generation of preferred prices. Feedback from the optimization engine may be utilized by the customer segmentation system to generate customer segment specific promotional activity.

06-10-2010

20100299181

Management of inventory allocations - A method of managing inventory allocations includes the step of receiving, in a data processing apparatus, data relating to the sale of items of inventory allocated to respective re-sellers. The data is processed to obtain data relating to sales performance of one or more of the respective re-sellers. The method includes adjusting a price for which inventory allocated to that respective re-seller is to be sold by depending on said data relating to the sales performance of the respective re-sellers and/or re-allocating inventory items from that said respective re-seller to other respective re-sellers. The invention extends to a software product and to a system.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MARKET SIMULATION/OPTIMIZATION - The market simulator/optimizer of the present invention combines partworth valuation techniques of Conjoint analysis with Nash equilibrium profit-maximization methodologies for sophisticated statistical treatment of a virtual available market comprising a multiplicity of virtual customers. An easy-to-use graphical user interface allows a user to arrange various market component icons to model various market characteristics. Associated with the market component icons are various distributions, including a benefit distribution containing values indicative of respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customer, and a cost distribution containing values indicative of respective costs associated with providing the respective benefits to the multiplicity of virtual customers.

08-26-2010

20100145762

PUBLISHER AD REVIEW - A review for an advertisement is received, the advertisement to be provided to recipients over a distribution network with content provided by content publishers. An aggregated approval score for the advertisement is generated based on the received review and other reviews for the advertisement. The aggregated approval score is provide to a content publisher. An indication to accept or reject the advertisement for presentation with content provided to recipients by the content publisher is received from the content publisher. The indication is received after providing the aggregated approval score to the content publisher.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCORING GROUPS - A system and method for scoring groups is provided. The method includes accessing stored past meeting activity information for a group and determining a stored setting for each of a plurality of indicators. The method further includes calculating with the computing system a score for each of the plurality of indicators for the group based on the stored past meeting activity information and displaying the score for each of the plurality of indicators.

08-19-2010

20100205037

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ASSOCIATE DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WITH INFLUENTIAL CONSUMER RELATIONSHIPS - Example methods and apparatus to associate demographic and geographic information with influential consumer relationships are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a communication record associated with a panel member, identifying from the communication record an influential relationship between a first individual listed within the communication record and the panel member, and in response to identifying the influential relationship, associating at least one of a geographic location or a demographic profile with the first individual.

08-12-2010

20100114663

HYBRID PREDICTION MODEL FOR A SALES PROSPECTOR - Systems and methods provide a system for generating a sales prospect recommendation that uses demographic data to make a sales prospect recommendation that includes a product recommendation with a probability that the sale will close, and may include an estimated time to close the sale and projected revenue. The system imports customer data including past purchasing data and demographic data for a plurality of customers. The system can then generate a predictive model by training the model using the past purchasing data and the demographic data. When queried for a sales prospect recommendation, the system responds to the query with at least one sales prospect recommended by the predictive model.

05-06-2010

20100274631

System and Method For Generating Vehicle Sales Leads - A system and method for generating leads associated with a vehicle operating on at least one computer device. The system and method including receiving vehicle profile data associated with the vehicle via a network, determining, using a programmed computer, an estimated value of the vehicle based on at least the vehicle profile data, and generating a vehicle purchase lead related to the vehicle.

10-28-2010

20100274636

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERSONALIZED EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT - Systems and methods for human resource activities are disclosed. The system allows a user to specify an organizational structure of an entity, design survey respondents, customize items, response logic and reporting dimensions. The system also allows a user to undergo a personalized employee engagement. The system analyzes results, provides recommendations and allows users to formulate action plans based upon the results.

10-28-2010

20100274630

ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE FORECAST - Aspects of the invention provide for the use of transactional data in the forecasting of an index score, such as a financial index that predicts market conditions. Such forecasting may better prepare individuals and entities for depressed economic conditions. A comparison engine may be configured to compare the financial variable of the transactional data and the transactional data's date against an index score of an index on a date to determine the correlation of at least a portion of transactions represented by the transactional data with the index score. A selection engine may be configured to select a portion of transactions that are more correlated to the index than other transactions. An index score may be forecasted with the selected transactions. Additional transactional data may be extracted from one or more physical documents, such as an invoice, a statement, and/or commercial paper.

10-28-2010

20100274633

Digital Menu Board System With Cash Register And Kitchen Interface - A product management and sales system for managing product preparation and sales. The system includes a kitchen display and input device displaying a plurality of perishable food items to be produced and receiving a production indication signal indicating production of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items. The system further includes a digital menu board displaying the plurality of perishable food items available for sale, a sales counter terminal for completing a sale of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items and outputting a sold indication signal; and a controller receiving the sold indication signal. The controller compares the sold indication signal to a predetermined inventory level for the at least one perishable food item and outputs an item-to-be-produced signal to the kitchen display and input.

10-28-2010

20100274628

ADVERTISEMENT COORDINATION - A system is disclosed for serving advertisements to a user of a client device. Based on a user requesting to view an email message in their inbox, the system provides the email message to the user. At least one header field in the header portion of the email message is scanned and data is extracted from at least one header field. The extracted data is delivered to an advertising server, which selects an advertisement that is relevant to the extracted data and delivers the relevant advertisement back to the system. The relevant advertisement is delivered to the user.

10-28-2010

20100274624

Method and system for improving personalization of advertising for mobile devices using peer rating - For use in a wireless communication network, a method and system for targeting advertising for a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of advertisements from an advertising distributor. The method also includes filtering the advertisements based on meta data for each advertisement. The method further includes receiving ratings of the advertisements from a plurality of mobile devices. The method also includes further filtering the advertisements based on an end user profile and the ratings from the plurality of mobile devices. The method still further includes transmitting a selected advertisement to the first mobile device.

10-28-2010

20100198657

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MANUNFACTURING BUSINESS - A method for planning the establishment of a business comprising the steps of providing partner characteristic information representing objective representations of characteristics of potential suppliers of goods and/or services, providing location characteristic information representing objective representations of characteristics of potential business locations, providing a minimum profit desired for the operation of said business, determining constraints for optimizing potential partners and potential locations to be used for determining profits according to a selected partner and selected locations; and determining a set of results wherein each member of said set of results contains at least one potential partner and at least one potential location according to said constraints.

08-05-2010

20100198656

Electronic digital direct-mail collateral - An electronic digital direct-mail collateral. In an embodiment, the device comprises a card stock mailer similar to a CD case, center hinged and printed with branded advertising information and graphic. The device may further comprise video, audio and cell phone operations.

08-05-2010

20100211439

Method and System for Predicting Audience Viewing Behavior - The present invention is directed to a method and system for predicting the behavior of an audience based on the biologically based responses of the audience to a presentation that provides a sensory stimulating experience and determining a measure of the level and pattern of engagement of that audience to the presentation. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and system for predicting whether an audience is likely to view a presentation in its entirety. In addition, the present invention may be used to determine the point at which an audience is likely to change their attention to an alternative sensory stimulating experience including fast forwarding through recorded content, changing the channel or leaving the room when viewing live content, or otherwise redirecting their engagement from the sensory stimulating experience.

08-19-2010

20100131338

Method and system for managing categories of an electronic commerce website - Managing categories in an electronic commerce system, includes obtaining transaction information pertaining to a set of back-end categories, the transaction information includes user information of users in the system who completed transactions in the set of back-end categories during a preset period, determining, based on the user information, a set of front-end categories that were selected by users in the system during the preset period, determining number of times a front-end category in the set of front-end categories was selected by the users in the system during the preset period, and adjusting the front-end category according to the transaction information and the number of times the front-end category was selected during the preset period.

05-27-2010

20100063869

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CREATE MODELING GROUPS FOR USE IN TRADE PROMOTION RESPONSE MODELS - Methods and apparatus to create modeling groups for use in trade promotion response models are disclosed. An example computer implemented method to generate a modeling group for use in a trade promotion response model includes generating products groups, each of which includes one or more product codes corresponding to substantially similar products; generating advertisement identifiers, each of which corresponds to an advertisement and one or more product codes associated with one or more products in the advertisement; selecting a first product group from the product groups; selecting one of the advertisement identifiers corresponding to one or more product codes that are also in the first product group; and generating a modeling group for a trade promotion response model by grouping together ones of the product groups that include the product codes corresponding to the selected one of the advertisement identifiers.

03-11-2010

20100042469

MOBILE DEVICE ENHANCED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - A software and/or hardware facility for providing a mobile device enhanced shopping experience is disclosed. The facility may determine a user characteristic of a mobile device user and deliver information in response to a product query. The information may include product information, competitive pricing information, competitive product information, related product information, a product advertisement, and/or the like. Also, the product query may be based on barcode information, a barcode image, product information, a product image, and/or the like.

02-18-2010

20100063861

PROMOTIONAL ASSOCIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method, system, and computer program product for defining an identity of a patron. An account associated with the patron is determined, and either the account or the identity is associated with a promotion. The association defines promotional association data.

03-11-2010

20100063864

AUTOMATIC SEQUENTIAL REVIEW ELICITATION - Some embodiments may provide a method and a system for receiving, from a first user, a first evaluation indication with respect to a first publication, and in response to receiving the first evaluation indication, automatically initiating a secondary evaluation process comprising automatically selecting a set of publications including at least a second publication; presenting a first user interface affordance to elicit a selection indication indicating a publication from among the set of publications, receiving a selection indication indicating the second publication, and in response to receiving the selection indication, presenting a second user interface affordance to elicit a second evaluation indication with respect to the second publication.

03-11-2010

20100063865

Masked Data Provider Profiling - Computer based methods, systems and software for generating pangenetic based data profiles of service providers are presented in which pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) features of consumers are correlated with outcomes experienced by the consumers with respect to those providers. The pangenetic based profiles that are generated can be used to recommend the most appropriate service providers for future consumers based on comparisons of pangenetic features. Data masking is used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.

03-11-2010

20100063863

Comprehensive Information Market Exchange - Systems and techniques for collecting information as authorized by information providers and sharing the information with information recipients according to criteria specified by the information providers. Information is collected from one or more of a variety of sources and stored in a provider profile, with the provider profile also specifying criteria for sharing the information, including payment required for sharing the information with particular categories of recipients. An exchange system is maintained allowing recipients to request or to otherwise specify needs for particular categories of information and payments to be provided by the information, and needs or requests of recipients for information are matched with criteria specified by providers, with information being transferred or used to provide results for a recipient and payment being transferred from the recipient to a provider or providers when a match between information needs and criteria for sharing information is identified.

03-11-2010

20100191577

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO COLLECT BROADBAND MARKET DATA - Example methods and apparatus to collect broadband market data are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes selecting a panelist household, the panelist household subscribing to at least one broadband service delivered via a modem, and identifying an Internet protocol (IP) address assigned to the modem by an Internet service provider (ISP). The example method also includes retrieving a range of IP addresses associated with the ISP, selecting a random subset of IP addresses from the range of IP addresses, and testing each of the IP addresses from the random subset to determine an activity status of each IP address.

07-29-2010

20100070346

Targeted Incentives Based Upon Predicted Behavior - A system and method for anticipating consumer behavior and determining transaction incentives for influencing consumer behavior comprises a computer system and associated database for determining cross time correlations between transaction behavior, for applying the function derived from the correlations to consumer records to predict future consumer behavior, and for deciding on transaction incentives to offer the consumers based upon their predicted behavior.

03-18-2010

20100070338

ANTICIPATORY INVENTORY MANAGEMENT VIA ELECTRONIC SHOPPING LISTS - A method and system of managing inventory within a store enables an end user to provide an electronic shopping list (ESL) indicating items that may be purchased in the future by an end user to a network resource associated with the store. The end user may be motivated to provide the ESL to the network resource. When the end user provides the ESL, the ESL may be used to predict future inventory needs and/or adjust inventory levels. Information tracking items on the ESL versus items that are purchased by the end user may be maintained to develop a likelihood of purchase factor for the end user. The tracking information may also be used to predict future inventory needs and/or adjust inventory levels.

03-18-2010

20100198653

OBJECT ORGANIZATION BASED ON USER INTERACTIONS WITHIN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for arranging virtual objects within an immersive virtual environment. In one embodiment, avatar characteristics, viewport/display characteristics, and object/location characteristics may be analyzed to determine a degree of visibility of various locations within a virtual space to a user. Further, past user interactions within the immersive virtual environment may be analyzed to determine which portions of the user's viewport, when including virtual objects that are offered for sale, are most likely to result in a sale to the user. A set of virtual objects may then be assigned to locations within the virtual space based on the determined visibility to the user, past purchases by the user, and characteristics of the virtual objects.

08-05-2010

20100198654

Personalized Content Delivery and Analytics - Systems and methods are provided that record details and analytics about a sales call presentation. Presentation materials are stored in the form of digital content in a memory. A first user interface is provided to allow a presenter to select a presentation, and a second user interface is provided to allow a presenter to enter details about the sales call. Analytical data of the presentation is recorded in real-time and the analytical data is stored in a memory, wherein the analytical data is used in part to assess the success of the presentation.

08-05-2010

20100114654

LEARNING USER PURCHASE INTENT FROM USER-CENTRIC DATA - A method of predicting user purchase intent from user-centric data includes applying a classification model to a user-centric clickstream, where the classification model predicting a likelihood of a future user purchase by a user within one or more product categories, and customizing content displayed to the user based on the likelihood of future user purchase. A system of predicting user purchase intent from user-centric data includes a computer programmed to record a user's clickstream data as a user accesses a plurality of different websites. The computer is also loaded with a classification model configured to predict a likelihood of a future user purchase by the user within one or more product categories based on the clickstream data. A method of predicting user purchase intent from user-centric data includes, with a user's own computer, recording user-centric clickstream data based on visits to a plurality of different websites; and storing a smart cooked based on the clickstream data on the user's own computer.

05-06-2010

20100063866

SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD, SERVICE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND MOBILE COMMUNICATING DEVICE - A service providing method, wherein a mobile communication device changes surveyed questionnaire data to upper level category data and transfers the changed data to service processing device and Web server, the service processing device transfers place data around the service processing device to the Web server, the Web server selects advertisement data that matches user's attitudes and the place, based upon the surveyed questionnaire data and the place data, and the service processing device and the mobile communication device displays advertisement images corresponding to the advertisement data received from the Web server on a display.

03-11-2010

20100174582

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USER TARGETED ADVERTISING THROUGH USER DRIVEN SELECTIONS AND USE OF VIDEO AND ELECTRONIC GAMES - Systems, apparatus and methods for marketing through advertising video games are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises presenting a list of the one or more products, services, brands or locations to one or more users; requesting the users select one or more products, services, brands or locations; receiving data indicating which of the one or more products, services, brands or locations the at users selected; presenting one or more video games to the users, presenting one or more instances of advertising related to the specific products, services, brands or locations selected by the users to the users; providing one or more incentives related directly to the specific products, services, brands or locations selected by the users to the users and receiving data from the users regarding their interest in, acceptance or rejection of the incentives provided to the users.

07-08-2010

20100030624

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING DAILY SHOPPING EASIER - An apparatus and method for facilitating a shopping experience. A user creates and stores a shopping list in a mobile terminal. Upon entering a shop, the mobile terminal downloads a shopping mini-application, which checks item availability and provides recommended substitute and complimentary items preferably taking user profile information into consideration. The mobile terminal also provides the user with reminders based on the user's purchasing history. Special offers are also presented to the user. Once the shopping list has been finalized, an optimal shopping route is computed for gathering the items on the list and is displayed to the user in the form of a map. The optimal route and recommendations may be updated at any time throughout the shopping experience in response to either the user's request, modifications to the shopping list and/or the user's divergence from the optimal route. The mini-application automatically may be deleted at the POS to conserve memory space.

02-04-2010

20100030623

METHOD OF PROVIDING AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE - A device configured to host a marketplace on at least one network is provided. A method of providing such a device is also disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one computer device configured to communicate with a plurality of clients via at least one network. The clients may include vendors, such as sellers, and customers, such as buyers. The one or more computer devices include at least one processing unit. The at least one computer device is configured to determine a vendor quality rating, providing bidding segmentation or provide customer feedback blocking. Methods of providing vendor quality ratings, bidding segmentation or customer feedback blocking are also provided.

02-04-2010

20100030622

APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO HOST AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE - A device configured to host a marketplace on at least one network is provided. A method of providing such a device is also disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one computer device configured to communicate with a plurality of clients via at least one network. The clients may include vendors, such as sellers, and customers, such as buyers. The one or more computer devices include at least one processing unit. The at least one computer device is configured to determine a vendor quality rating, providing bidding segmentation or provide customer feedback blocking. Methods of providing vendor quality ratings, bidding segmentation or customer feedback blocking are also provided.

Systems and Methods to Use Rules and Constraints for Service Consolidation - Systems and methods to consolidate user preferences for a service and make suggestions for options related to the service. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method includes: storing preferences of a plurality of users for a service; storing past options that have been previously selected for the service; in response to a request for the service for a subset of the users, combining the preferences of the subset of the users to generate a preference set for the subset of the users, based on a set of predetermined rules, using a computer; and selecting an option based on the preference set generated for the subset of users and the past options that have been previously selected for the service, using the computer.

07-29-2010

20100191573

COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETERMINING TARGET SUBSET OF DATA BASED ON MEASURED PARAMETER - The invention provides a computer-based method of determining target subset of data based on measured parameter comprising (i) storing a set of keyword phrases in at least one computer-readable storage medium, (ii) storing a set of measured parameters in said at least one computer-readable storage medium, each measured para meter being associated with a respective one of the keyword phrases, (iii) receiving at least one common sub phrase in at least one computer processor connected to said at least one computer-readable storage medium due to entry of said sub phrase by a user utilizing a computer input device connected to the computer processor, (iv) operating said at least one computer processor to extract a subset of keyword phrases having the common sub phrase from the keyword phrases, (v) operating said at least one computer processor to aggregate the extracted keyword phrases to determine a total measured parameter for each extracted keyword phrase, each total measured parameter being a function of the measured parameters of the extracted keyword phrases, (vi) receiving a targeting criteria in said at least one computer processor due to entry of said targeting criteria by a user utilizing a computer input device connected to the computer processor, (vii) operating said at least one computer processor to select a subset of the aggregated keyword phrases based on the targeting criteria; and (viii) displaying the subset by a display device connected to said at least one computer processor, including a display of the total measured parameter aggregated for each keyword phrase extracted based on the common sub phrase, the extracted keyword phrases further selected due to matching of the targeting criteria.

07-29-2010

20100235221

MARKET IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for providing a marketing identification system by enabling creating an entry for customer data in a way that allows searching of customer attributes, querying the customer data, retrieving data in response to the query, de-identifying and aggregating the retrieved data, and displaying the de-identified and aggregated data in a way that identifies the available market as defined by the query. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the internet.

09-16-2010

20100114656

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VALUE-ADDED CONTENT IN AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ENVIRONMENT - In various exemplary embodiments, a system architecture and associated method to provide value-added content in an electronic communications environment occurring over a communications link between a first electronic system provider and a third-party cloud provider is disclosed. The system architecture comprises an electronic communications interface to allow translation between the first electronic system provider, additional electronic system providers, and an end-user to the third-party cloud provider. The electronic communications interface further provides the first electronic system provider with at least a portion of the content within communications streams from the additional electronic system providers and the end-user via the communications link. A visual generator provides display regions to the end-user with the value-added content from the first electronic system provider that is related to the at least a portion of the content of at least one of the communications streams.

05-06-2010

20100185493

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORECASTING INFORMATION USING COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE FROM DIVERSE SOURCES - System, method, computer program product, and business operating model. Information processing system comprising: server computer having processor for executing computer instructions and memory coupled to processor for storing instructions and data; communications link for communicating between server and information appliance client entities external to server, communication link enabling receipt of first information from a plurality of external entities and for transmitting second information to second entities, first and second entities may be same entities or different entities; data store defining database for storing first and second information; computer program having plurality of executable command instructions and executing in processor and memory for generating second information from at least some of plurality of first information; wherein first information comprising plurality of individual information items and second information comprising processed collective information generated from plurality of individual information items and having increased value to second entities by virtue of collective contribution and processing applied thereto.

07-22-2010

20100179861

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING AND MANAGING OBJECTS - System and method for assessing objects such as vehicles, wherein a value estimation model is determined for vehicles on a basis of data representing characteristics of a plurality of vehicles, the model including a plurality of parameters to be determined and a plurality of explanatory variables associated with the parameters and defined on the basis of the characteristics, wherein age and/or mileage of vehicles is configured to affect the value estimate, the value estimate being a dependent variable in the model, and wherein a unit for producing a value estimate for a target vehicle on the basis of the model is configured to perform an action (

07-15-2010

20100004979

Promotional Micro-Endorsement matching, distribution and conversion system and method - A method and system to provide Broadcasting networks revenue by Monetizing “shout outs and holler outs”. Consumer Participants Register with Internet domain network and then issue shout outs on participating broadcasting (radio, TV . . . etc) networks. The consumers are then paid a fee for mentioning an advertiser during the shout out, if conducted in correct format.

01-07-2010

20100125489

System and Method for Root Cause Analysis and Early Warning of Inventory Problems - A system and method is disclosed for root cause analysis and early warning of inventory problems. The system includes a server coupled with a database and configured to access the data describing inventory policy parameters of a supply chain network, the data describing one or more demand patterns and one or more replenishment patterns of the supply chain network, and the data describing the supply chain network comprising a plurality of entities, each entity configured to supply one or more items to satisfy a demand. The server is further configured to optimize the inventory policy parameters for each of the one or more items according to the one or more demand patterns and the one or more replenishment patterns and store the optimized inventory policy parameters in the database for each of the one or more items.

05-20-2010

20100174585

SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR INTERFACING SOFTWARE ENGINES - A system, method and computer program product for interfacing a decision engine and a marketing engine in order to provide vendor-related data in response to decision-related data is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the system and method may include providing a decision engine on a user-accessible network; interfacing a marketing engine with the decision engine on the network; receiving a plurality of user inputs with the decision engine; processing decision-related data with the decision engine in accordance with the plurality of user inputs; sharing the decision-related data with the marketing engine; processing the decision-related data with the marketing engine; and transmitting vendor-related data via the network.

07-08-2010

20100169161

TRANSACTION INFORMATION BASED SOCIAL GROUPS - A computerized method and system for initiating a social group based on historical transaction information are provided. Example embodiments may include creating a user interface associated with a social network, and automatically suggesting, via the user interface, formation of a group within the social network, based on historical transaction information. A response may be received from one or more users, via the user interface. The response may indicate that the one or more users are interested in the group. In response to receiving the response, a group data structure may be created automatically.

07-01-2010

20100153186

Business method for promoting goods and services of providers - A business method for promoting goods and services of providers includes the steps of designating a group of targeted recipients, and storing demographics information of each recipient in an electronic database. A plurality of direct mail items including provider promotions is generated, and each marked with a machine-readable ID code unique to each of the recipients. The direct mail items are sorted by their respective ID codes into cooperative mail packages, each mail package containing multiple items with common ID codes. The mail packages are then forwarded to respective recipients. After redemption of a direct mail item by a recipient, the ID code is read and electronically linked with the recipient's demographics information contained in the electronic database. A report is generated based on the direct mail items redeemed.

06-17-2010

20100153184

SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PREDICTING CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR - According to one aspect of the present disclosure a method and technique for predictive modeling of customer behavior is disclosed. The method includes receiving customer data from a plurality on non-affiliated vendor properties, anonymizing at least a portion of the received customer data and merging the anonymized customer data from each vendor property into a consortium database, and generating at least one predictive model of at least one behavior variable associated with at least one customer represented in the consortium database, the predictive model enabling identification of at least one stimuli likely to affect a desired response by the customer based on the predictive model.

06-17-2010

20100153176

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CARBON FOOTPRINT OF MAIL - A mail production system enhanced for measuring and reducing carbon footprint of mail. The system includes an inserter machine with sensors configured to detect attributes of mail that may contribute to carbon footprint. A controller computer is in communication with the inserter sensors. The controller further receives and stores mail job attribute data from a data file regarding attributes of the mail to be produced. The computer memory includes data correlating particular mail attributes to corresponding carbon footprint. The controller computer is programmed to calculate a carbon footprint for mail to be produced on the inserter by adding carbon footprint contributed by sensed attributes and mail job attribute data. The controller computer stores carbon footprint data for comparison with future mail jobs. The controller computer provides the user with carbon reduction suggestions corresponding to attributes of the mail.

06-17-2010

20100153175

Correlation of Psycho-Demographic Data and Social Network Data to Initiate an Action - An action is initiated based on data collected from a social network of a user. User data is collected automatically from activity of the user. Social data is collected from the user's social network. The social data includes information obtained from the activity of at least one second or greater order indirect member of the social network relative to the user. The user data, social data, and the psycho-demographic data are correlated to initiate the action.

06-17-2010

20100153172

Interactive Analysis and Reporting System for Telecom and Network Industry Data - This invention relates to a method and system for providing a subscriber with secure access to a custom market share research environment for viewing quantitative market share data stored in a database on the server, and for generating real-time customized interactive reports of said data based parameters such as quarterly data, yearly data, date-range presented data, individual company data, market segment data, entire market data, geographical region data, country data, revenue data, units data, and user-defined data.

06-17-2010

20100153174

Generating Retail Cohorts From Retail Data - The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating retail cohorts. In an illustrative embodiment, retail data derived from a population of retail customers is received and processed to form digital retail data. The digital retail data includes metadata describing a set of retail patterns associated with one or more customers in the population of retail customers. The set of retail patterns form a set of retail attributes for cohort generation. The digital retail data is analyzed using cohort criteria to identify a set of retail cohorts based on the set of retail attributes. The cohort criteria specify at least one retail attribute from the set of retail attributes for each cohort in the set of retail cohorts. Thereafter, a set of retail cohorts are generated. The retail cohorts have members selected from the population of retail customers, and have the at least one retail attribute in common.

06-17-2010

20100153185

MEDIATING AND PRICING TRANSACTIONS BASED ON CALCULATED REPUTATION OR INFLUENCE SCORES - Mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence is provided. In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence includes determining an influence score (e.g., based on a given dimension) for a subject (e.g., a user), in which the subject is requesting a transaction; and determining approval of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. In some embodiments, the influence score is a directly estimated objective measure of influence (e.g., estimated using a social graph). In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence further includes determining pricing of the transaction based on criteria including the influence score of the subject. In some embodiments, mediating and pricing transactions based on calculated reputation and influence also includes sharing transactional revenue for the transaction with the subject based on criteria including the influence score of the subject.

06-17-2010

20100153180

Generating Receptivity Cohorts - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating receptivity cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a set of individuals is retrieved in response to receiving an identification of a proposed future change in a current set of circumstances associated with the set of individuals. The digital sensor data comprises events metadata describing a set of events associated with the set of individuals. The set of events comprises at least one of body language, facial expressions, vocalizations, and social interactions of the set of individuals. An analysis server selects a set of receptivity analysis models based on the proposed future event and the set of events. Each analysis model in the set of receptivity analysis models analyzes the set of events to identify conduct attributes indicating receptiveness of each individual in the set of individuals to the proposed future change. The events metadata describing the set of events is analyzed in the selected set of receptivity analysis models to form a receptivity cohort. The receptivity cohort comprises a set of conduct attributes indicating receptiveness of each individual in the set of individuals to the proposed future change.

06-17-2010

20100153183

Product design - A technique to obtain desirable product-specific outcomes is disclosed. An example of a method using the technique includes parameterizing a job to identify steps; defining a market as a job executor of the job; deconstructing the job to determine achievable outcomes at each step in the job; using outcome statements associated with the achievable outcomes as bases for segmentation; allocating customers into segments of customers with different unmet needs, revealing segment of opportunity; uncovering segments of customers that struggle to achieve desirable outcomes at one or more steps of the job; revealing an opportunity to help at least one customer achieve desirable outcomes related to a specific market; designing a product that helps the at least one customer achieve desirable outcomes.

06-17-2010

20100153181

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION SERVICES - Systems and methods for providing information services are disclosed. A method for providing an information service can comprise providing a pool of providers, and receiving a request from a requester for an information service from at least one of the providers. One or more of the providers can be identified as a provider subset available to deliver the information service to the requestor. The identified provider subset can be presented to the requester, along with a reputation index for each provider in the provider subset. A selection of a first provider belonging to the provider subset can be received from the requestor. The information service can be performed by transmitting data from the provider to the requester in real-time.

06-17-2010

20100153179

AUTOMATIC CALCULATION OF FORECAST RESPONSE FACTOR - A forecast response factor (RF) determines how quickly product demand forecasts should react to recent changes in demand. When a product sales pattern changes (e.g., a sudden increase in product demand), RF is adjusted accordingly to adjust the forecast responsiveness. The present subject matter provides automatic calculation of the RF, based at least in part on the nature of the product sales (autocorrelation) and the status of recent forecasts (bias).

06-17-2010

20100153173

PROVIDING REPORT OF CONTENT MOST SCHEDULED FOR RECORDING - A user is provided a report based on data collected from multimedia content or channels that are most scheduled for recording by users. User defined criteria specify a period used for filtering qualifying recording events for inclusion in the report. The report may be provided on an information channel accessible from a multimedia content distribution network.

06-17-2010

20100049594

Methods of Influencing Shoppers at the First Moment of Truth in a Retail Establishment - Provided herein are systems and methods for influencing shoppers while they consider making purchasing decisions in a retail establishment. Specifically, the systems and methods for influencing shoppers may occur during a shopper's first moment of truth by transmitting through a communication network one or more influential messages to a handheld wireless electronic device or intelligent shopping cart, which is in close proximity to a shopper during a shopping trip throughout a retail establishment.

02-25-2010

20100049593

MATERIALS SUPPLY CONTRACT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention relates to a materials supply contract system and method for use in conducting business on-line over a network of computers such as the Internet. A method is provided for a buyer to award a supply contract, issued as a BOM, to a supplier selected from a panel of predetermined suppliers which each have a base supply contract with the buyer, the method being conducted over a computer network which comprises at least one buyer computer, an administrator computer and at least two supplier computers, the method comprising the steps of sending a buyer message from the buyer computer to the administrator computer identifying the BOM which includes at least one predetermined parameter (e.g. material requirement, business and market rules and/or special instructions), receiving the buyer message and displaying the BOM on a site on the administrator computer which is accessible by at least two supplier computers, sending a BOM message from the administrator computer to the at least two suppliers, receiving and storing an offer message in the administrator computer from one or more of the at least two supplier computers which includes an offer to supply goods or services in accordance with the BOM, sending an acceptance message from the administrator computer to the supplier computer which sent the successful offer, and sending a notification message from the administrator computer to the buyer computer notifying the buyer computer of one or more of the offers.

02-25-2010

20100049592

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSTOMER VALUE CREATION - A system and related methods used by an organization to collect, manage, analyze and act on data (i.e., manage “customer value creation” or “CVC”) from customers. The system may be used by organizations without depending on consultants to manage customer value creation. The system comprises an integrated dataset and schema, termed “Customer Value Creation Data,” which comprises three data types: Differential Value Proposition; Demand Influence; and Opportunities. Differential Value Proposition is the ability of the organization's products and services to positively impact their customer's bottom line relative to the organization's competitors. The ability to create a DVP can be correlated to the investments and strategies made by the organization on an ongoing basis. The connection between an organization's investments and strategies, and their customer's bottom line, comprises three parts: the investments and strategies that an organization makes (Value Attributes); the relative importance or impact each investment or strategy has on a customer's bottom line (Value Attribute Scores); and the combined, quantified economic or financial impact that all the Value Attributes have on a customer's bottom line or profitability (Differential Value Proposition Percentage, or “DVP %”). The system may be embodied in a computer program that implements modules in the appropriate order, collects and stores relevant data, and perform necessary calculations. The program may be run through an Internet web browser.

02-25-2010

20100049591

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Saving time and middle-men costs in performing one-country or multi-country market research studies. Users are permitted to collaborate directly on assets deemed by the user to be non-competitive, and by automizing many functions that are today handled manually. Also, CPX is utilized, which lets buyers and sellers of access trade this access in a wholly open environment, which decreases trading friction and increases the flow of pricing information.

02-25-2010

20100049590

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF UNSTRUCTURED DATA - A method and system for semantically analyzing unstructured data in a customer feedback is provided. The method includes extracting data related to customer feedback from one or more input sources. The method further includes assigning weights to the one or more input sources and extracting relevant text from the feedback data. Further, sentences are detected from the customer feedback and are annotated. Thereafter, relevant adjectives are determined and are associated with sentence types. A rating is calculated for each sentence of the relevant text and output is provided in a pre-determined format.

GIFT RECOMMENDATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - Embodiments for recommending gifts to users for their gift recipients over a network are described. For example, a gift recommendation system may collect a set of historical transaction data of a plurality of transactions, and organize the set of historical transaction data based on information related to buyer gender, buyer age, item category, and transaction date of each transaction, in which the list of predetermined amount of gift categories are ordered based on an entire item purchase amount of each gift category. The gift recommendation system may retrieve gender and age information of a gift recipient, for example, via a graphical user interface, and then may automatically present to the user a list of predetermined amount of gift categories selected from the organized set of historical transaction data based on the gender and age information of the gift recipient. Once a gift category is selected from the presented list of predetermined amount of gift categories, the gift recommendation system may automatically present to the user a list of predetermined amount of gift items belonging to the selected gift category.

07-01-2010

20100169159

Media for Service and Marketing - Methods, systems, and computer program products for performing the method are provided. The method includes receiving in a customer relationship management (CRM) application, data from a communication made by a first person using a social interaction application that allows third party access to communications. The method also includes assigning based on the data, a sentiment indicator to the communication according to a predefined scale and generating at least one output to the first person using the CRM application in response to receiving the data, the output based on the sentiment indicator.

07-01-2010

20100169156

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREDITING A CUSTOMER ACCOUNT - Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and method for crediting a customer account for having placed a call from the customer on hold during a customer service call. For example, in one embodiment, audible advertisements are played while a customer is on hold during a customer service call. Revenue received from the advertisers associated with the audible advertisements is used to credit the customer account. In some embodiments, the total credit applied to customer accounts for having been placed on hold completely offsets all revenue received from the advertisers of the audible advertisements. Thus, the disclosed embodiments provide a mutual benefit to advertisers and consumers.

07-01-2010

20100010867

Method for measuring packet advertising effectiveness - This invention generally relates to a method for measuring the effectiveness of an advertising method that facilitates purchases involving or assisted by a website. More particularly the method discloses how to measure the advertising effectiveness of widely distributed resealable packets of liquid that bear website addresses to prompt or facilitate direct access to websites. Data derived from the packet's manufacturing, distribution and website access is used in measuring the advertising effectiveness disclosed in this method.

01-14-2010

20100169162

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF TRADE PROMOTIONS ON SUBSEQUENT SALES - Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on subsequent sales are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of a product that was under a promotion condition during a first one of the plurality of weeks. The example method also includes determining a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term equal to the product of a corresponding coefficient multiplied by a corresponding one of the decremental effect factors, and determining a pantry loading effect term based on the plurality of decremental effect terms. Further, the example method includes determining a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term, and generating a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

07-01-2010

20100169157

METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISING - A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for providing targeted advertising. An apparatus may include a processor configured to generate a targeting vector and provide the targeting vector to an advertising platform to permit one or more advertisements to be selected based at least in part upon the provided targeting vector. The processor may be further configured to receive the one or more advertisements from the advertising platform. The processor may additionally be configured to monitor a user's interaction with the received advertisements to determine an effectiveness level of the advertisements. The processor may be further configured to update the targeting vector when the determined effectiveness level is less than a target effectiveness level by modifying the targeting vector to enhance the effectiveness level of advertisements selected based at least in part upon the targeting vector. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

07-01-2010

20100169153

User-Adaptive Recommended Mobile Content - Techniques are described to provide user-adaptive recommended mobile content. In an example implementation, one or more user-specific parameters are detected on a mobile device. Examples of user-specific parameters may include user behavior on the mobile device, the location of the user and/or mobile device, the behavior of a user's associate as part of a social network, and so on. The user-specific parameters are used to identify recommended content that is relevant to the user-specific parameters, and the user is notified of the recommended content. The recommended content may be accessed via the mobile device.

07-01-2010

20100169152

Streaming advertisements to a computer platform in a secure and targeted manner - In some embodiments targeted messaging and ads are delivered to a target customer in response to end user demographic information and end user computing platform behavior. The delivering is prevented from being overridden by a user or by any software running on the computing platform. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

07-01-2010

20100023382

INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM - It is possible to accurately grasp the taste of each user and provide information in which the taste thereof is accurately reflected. Store information kept in a store information storage unit (

01-28-2010

20100023383

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING MOBILE DEVICE CAPABILITIES - Methodologies and system functionality are provided to determine mobile device capabilities and/or configuration setting and user abilities and/or inclinations as a precursor to or as part of the management, delivery and/or assessment of the efficacy of promotional material. The determination of the mobile device capabilities and/or configuration settings and user abilities and/or inclinations may be performed, for example, when provisioning a new service or after such a service has been utilized by a mobile device user. Further, such a determination may be performed in connection with a mobile device service that provides free or subsidized service to mobile device users.

01-28-2010

20100023379

Method and system for determining real estate market value changes - A method and system for valuing real estate property values comprises correlating sales price of benchmark properties of a predetermined size and determining the property value based on the correlation. In one aspect the benchmark properties are determined based on a preselected geographic area, which may include a postal or zip code which includes properties having sizes within a particular range of the predetermined size.

01-28-2010

20100023377

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCE ACTIVITIES - Systems and methods for human resource activities is disclosed. The system allows a user to specify an organizational structure of an entity, design survey respondents, customize items, response logic and reporting dimensions. The system analyzes results and allows users to formulate action plans based upon the results.

01-28-2010

20100023380

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING WEB ANALYTICS - A graphical user interface implemented on a computer. The graphical user interface has an information area displaying customer satisfaction data generated on the basis of on-line surveys through application of a questionnaire to visitors of a web site, wherein the questionnaire includes open-ended questions. The graphical user interface further includes a control operable by a user at the computer to display answers provided by the visitors to the open-ended questions.

01-28-2010

20100023376

Iterative real-time auction for resource management with user rules - Resource management using an iterative real-time auction with user rules is provided. Users of a community, such as a multi-user development, establish user rules including conditions for operating a resource-consuming device based on an incentive. A utility manager receives the user rules and integrates them with respect to an incentive value. The aggregate resource demand of the community can be estimated based on the integration of the user rules and can be compared with a desired demand. By iteratively changing the incentive value and estimating the demand with respect to the incentive value, the utility manager can control resource demand and consumption while taking into account user preferences. In other words, users of the community provide bids for a resource auction based on incentives provided by the utility manager. Resources can include electricity and incentives can include financial incentives, carbon credits, or third party offers.

01-28-2010

20100169165

METHOD FOR UPDATING REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS IN A CAUSAL PRODUCT DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEM - An improved method for forecasting and modeling product demand for a product. The forecasting methodology employs a causal methodology, based on multiple regression techniques, to model the effects of various factors on product demand, and hence better forecast future patterns and trends, improving the efficiency and reliability of the inventory management systems. A product demand forecast is generated by blending forecast or expected values of the non-redundant causal factors together with corresponding regression coefficients determined through the analysis of historical product demand and factor information. The improved method provides for the saving and updating of previously calculated intermediate regression analysis results and regression coefficients, significantly reducing data transfer time and computational efforts required for additional regression analysis and coefficient determination.

07-01-2010

20100169164

BALANCED SCORE-CARD SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING THE SAME - Provided is a Balanced Score-Card system, and a method for establishing the same. The balanced Score-Card particularly includes an item-setting module, a SWOT-matrix module, a SWOT overall-objective setting module, an overall-objective setting module, a causality setting module, and a strategic-map module. The SWOT overall-objective setting module is set via a SWOT-matrix module with reversible and recording mechanism. Therefore, a user may obtain a logic relation between a strategic objective and a strategic condition through this SWOT-matrix module, and also understand the importance of every strategic condition. Further, the strategic condition can be examined whether it has error. Consequently a more accurate Balanced Score-Card system can be established.

07-01-2010

20100205044

METHOD FOR MANAGING INVENTORY WITHIN AN INTEGRATED SUPPLY CHAIN - A method for managing inventory within a supply chain. The method is performed by providing forecasts of demand for items distributed within the supply chain, using the forecasts to establish base stocking levels and reorder points within the supply chain, and using the established base stocking levels and reorder points to position items within the supply chain so as to maximize efficiency and profitability when responding to an order for an item.

08-12-2010

20100205045

System and method for improving retail store customer loyalty - A system and method for improving and maintaining retail store customer loyalty through providing customers with quality services, timely assistances, and conveniences in all stages of product shopping. The system provides a web parts based collaborative online platform for retailers, product manufacturers, and service providers to share resources, distribute coupons, promote products and services, and communicate with customers. It further provides shopping assistances to help customers selectively receive coupons, redeem coupons online, build shopping lists online, retrieve shopping list and shopping reminders, find product shelf locations, place online orders, and manage budgets and nutrition. The system has the capability to collect customer shopping activity data, automatically analyze customer product purchase preferences, recommend products and services, and deliver relevant coupons and advertisements to customers.

08-12-2010

20100205041

DETERMINING THE INTEREST OF INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES BASED ON A GENERAL INTEREST - An interest value indicative of the interest of a particular entity in one or more items can be determined based on a general interest value (e.g., a group interest/preference value) associated with a plurality of entities (e.g., persons, members of a group) that include that particular entity. The interest value can be determined based on Collaborative Filtering (CF) data and/or individual (or non-collaborative) data. In contrast to the Collaborative Filtering (CF) data which may include data associated with various entities, the individual (or non-collaborative) data typically pertains to one entity, namely, the entity whose interest is to be determined. It will be appreciated that both collaborative and non-collaborative data pertaining to individuals can be considered, thereby allowing for a better estimation of individual interests. The interest of a particular entity can be determined, for example, by considering the difference between a predicted CF interest value (determined based on CF data) and a group interest value and/or by considering the difference between a predicted individual interest value (determined based on non-collaborative data) and the group interest value.

08-12-2010

20100205040

METHOD FOR PROVIDING AND DISPLAYING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION - A method for providing and displaying information for a political campaign. The method includes the steps of collecting data from real property information, individual information, and political information and inputting the collected data into a database in a computer. Also included are the steps of determining a set of characteristics for a political action objective, cross-referencing the set of characteristics with the collected data in the database to create a shape, and displaying the shape. The method includes the final step of creating a plan of action based upon an analysis of the shape.

08-12-2010

20100205035

Providing Advertisements in Virtual Environments - The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for providing advertisements in virtual world environments. In one embodiment, the method may include providing at least one advertisement to be displayed within a virtual world environment distributed to a plurality of user computer systems. The method may also include determining that a user is interacting with the advertisement in the virtual world environment. In one embodiment, the method may further include tracking one or more factors associated with the interaction.

08-12-2010

20100169166

DATA QUALITY TESTS FOR USE IN A CAUSAL PRODUCT DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEM - An improved method for forecasting and modeling product demand for a product. The forecasting methodology employs a causal methodology, based on multiple regression techniques, to model the effects of various factors on product demand, and hence better forecast future patterns and trends, improving the efficiency and reliability of the inventory management systems. The improved method identifies linear dependent causal factors and removes redundant causal factors from the regression analysis. A product demand forecast is generated by blending forecast or expected values of the non-redundant causal factors together with corresponding regression coefficients determined through the analysis of historical product demand and factor information.

07-01-2010

20100179862

NESTED, HIERARCHICAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION SCHEMA FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC POWER GRID - Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is disclosed comprising a first feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a first plurality of customers. The first feeder network is controlled by a first market-based pricing system that computes a first feeder network price of electrical power at first periodic intervals. The system of this embodiment further comprises a second feeder network configured to deliver electrical power to a second plurality of customers. The second feeder network is controlled by a second market-based pricing system that computes a second feeder network price of electrical power at second periodic intervals. In this exemplary embodiment, the first feeder network and the second feeder network are part of a same distribution network, and the first feeder network price of electrical power is different than the second feeder network price of electrical power.

07-15-2010

20100179858

IDENTIFYING AND SHARING COMMON TRENDS - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and machine-readable media for identifying and sharing common trends represented in a corpus of private information without revealing the private information. Identifying and sharing common trends can comprise reading a first set of private information and a second set of private information. The first set of private information can be compared to the second set of private information and common information between the first set of private information and the second set of private information can be identified. Once identified, a determination can be made as to whether the identified common information represents an emerging trend, i.e., the common information re-occurs or develops over time. In response to determining the identified common information represents an emerging trend, the emerging trend can be reported without revealing the first set of private information or the second set of private information.

07-15-2010

20100235220

CATEGORY SIMILARITIES - Methods, systems, and apparatus for determining similarity measures between vertical categories based on users' online activities. The similarity measures are symmetric similarity measures based on both a similarity measure of a first vertical category relative to a second vertical category and a similarity measure of the second vertical category relative to the first vertical category.

09-16-2010

20100125487

System and method for estimating settings for managing a supply chain - A method for estimating supply chain settings comprises receiving historical supply chain data and generating one or more supply chain simulation files based on the historical supply chain data. A plurality of supply chain settings associated with the one or more supply chain simulation files is established and the one or more supply chain simulation files are simulated based on the plurality of supply chain settings. The performance of the supply chain is predicted over a time period associated with the historical supply chain data based on the simulation, and data indicative of the predicted performance of the supply chain is provided to a subscriber.

05-20-2010

20100125485

Interactive Selling System and Associated Methods - A system for interactive selling may include a data processing device and a human consumable product. The system may also include a concealed flavor associated with the human consumable product and a code carried by the human consumable product that by itself cannot reveal the concealed flavor to a consumer. The code and the data processing device may induce the consumer to purchase the human consumable product because the consumer can then relay the code to the data processing device which determines for the consumer the concealed flavor based upon the code.

05-20-2010

20100076816

DYNAMIC INTERACTIVE SURVEY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and methodology for communication between a service provider and a service recipient relating to services is described, such that for a particular task or project, interaction and feedback between the respective service provider and service recipient is provided by the system in a manner that enables service recipient satisfaction to be accurately communicated to the service provider and documented by the service recipient. The system is modifiable and customizable to facilitate communication between a service provider and a service recipient in various industries.

03-25-2010

20100114657

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURABLE MODEL-INDEPENDENT DECOMPOSITION OF A BUSINESS METRIC - Methods and apparatuses for decomposing a business metric based on a plurality of activities and a response model are described. In one embodiment, the method accesses the response model and the plurality of activities, the plurality of activities each having a reference and executed value. The method computes a contribution to the business metric based on setting one of the plurality of activities to one of the corresponding reference and executed value and setting the other activities to the value state opposite of that activity. Furthermore, the method computes each of the contributions independent of the response model type.

05-06-2010

20100114653

Publishing System with Partner Matching - Systems and methods are described for publishing a document. In one example, a user interface, configured for profiling a document, a publisher of the document, a plurality of document consumers and a plurality of ad buyers, is displayed. The system may remove from the plurality of ad buyers those ad buyers whose goods or services are found to overlap areas of goods or services offered by the publisher. The removal may be performed in an automated manner, and as a backup, in a manual manner by a user operating the user interface. The document consumers are matched with the plurality of ad buyers to find ad buyers that are compatible with the document. Content provided by the publisher and ads provided by ad buyers found to be compatible with the content are then combined to form the document.

05-06-2010

20100114647

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOR GRANULAR INVENTORY FORECASTING OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT IMPRESSIONS - An improved system and method for granular inventory forecasting of online advertisement impressions is provided. An impression forecast data integrator may be provided that generates forecasted impression pools of advertisements by integrating impression pools of advertisements that share the same attributes and trend forecast data for web pages and advertisement placements on the web pages. Using the trend forecast data, an inventory forecast for a category may be calculated and an inventory forecast for an impression pool may be calculated. A daily forecasted inventory may then be produced for each impression pool by minimizing an objective function of squared errors of the difference between the daily forecasted inventory for each category and the sum of the daily forecasted inventory for each impression pool. The daily inventory forecast for each pool may be output.

05-06-2010

20100228598

MARKET DESIGN FOR A RESOURCE EXCHANGE SYSTEM - Providing a market design for a peer-to-peer resource exchange system. Prices for a plurality of resources such as storage space, upload bandwidth, and download bandwidth are calculated and balanced based on previous resource prices, a supply of the resources, and a demand for the resources. Further, prices for operations such as storage and retrieval are determined such that a total of the payments to resource suppliers equals a total of the payments received from the resource consumers. In some embodiments, incoming data operation requests are allocated to the peers such that equilibrium among the peers is achieved.

09-09-2010

20100228602

Event information tracking and communication tool - A central server system communicates with a plurality of communication devices known as RTLS tags worn by participants of an event in a facility. The RTLS tags communicate with a network located in the vicinity of the facility to determine the position of the RTLS tags in real time. The network transfers information to and from a RTIMS server. Information about identities of the participants, the location of the participants and geographical maps of display booths and exhibitor signage at the event are stored on the RTIMS server in a data store. Reciprocity between participants and exhibitors may be established. The data store may be queried to provide participants information relevant for navigation, lead capture, participant surveys and participant traffic flow. Participant locations may be correlated to entity locations or other participants by the RTIMS system to provide location oriented services. There is a data generation plan for the event design.

09-09-2010

20100228595

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCORING TARGET LISTS FOR ADVERTISING - Various implementations of the invention relate to systems and methods for scoring a plurality of prospective target lists to facilitate an analytic approach, rather than conventional subjective approaches, to selecting one or more of the prospective target lists for purposes of advertising. A plurality of representations representative of one or more desired targeted advertising groups may be created. The prospective target lists may be evaluated against the created representations to develop one or more scores for each prospective target list. Based on the developed scores, one or more target lists from among the plurality of prospective target lists may be recommended and/or selected for advertising purposes.

09-09-2010

20100228594

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL SYSTEM - Advertising networks are described that enable the provision of offers to a user device in response to activation of an installation package. One embodiment of the invention includes a user device connected to a network, an advertising server system connected to the network, where the advertising server system stores information concerning a plurality of offers, and a partner server connected to the network. In addition, the user device is configured to execute an installation package to perform a predetermined operation, where the execution of the installation package triggers execution of a client application configured to collect information concerning the user device and to forward the collected information to the advertising server system as the installation package performs the predetermined operation, the advertising server system is configured to select at least one of the plurality of offers based upon the collected information and to forward information concerning the at least one selected offer to the client application, the client application is configured to display via the user device information concerning the at least one selected offer as the installation package performs the predetermined operation, and the client application is configured to contact the partner server to obtain fulfillment of an accepted offer.

09-09-2010

20100228593

TRACKING OFFLINE RESPONSES TO INDICATE ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT QUALITY - Online advertisements can include offline response mechanisms. The offline response mechanisms can be used to adjust quality scores associated with the online advertisements. The adjusted quality scores can be used to influence whether particular ads are served in future placements.

09-09-2010

20100228592

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED ADVERTISEMENTS - Media is provided to a client device in response to a request with dynamically selected advertisements. One or more advertisements can be dynamically selected by an application server based on user data, advertisement parameters and other data to provide in or near the requested media. Attributes can be determined for one or more advertisement sets in which advertisements are placed within the requested media. The advertisement sets may be configured with the identified advertisements by an application server, and the requested media content and identified ads can be provided to the requesting client device.

09-09-2010

20100228591

REAL TIME AD SELECTION FOR REQUESTED CONTENT - Media is provided to a client device in response to a request with dynamically selected advertisements in near real time by performing a portion of ad selection operations as pre-processing before a media content request is received. One or more advertisements can be dynamically selected by an application server based on user data, advertisement parameters and other data to provide in the requested media. Attributes can be determined for one or more advertisement sets in which advertisements are placed within the requested media. The advertisement sets may be configured with the identified advertisements by an application server, and the requested media content and identified ads can be provided to the requesting client device.

09-09-2010

20100088158

System and method for providing competitive pricing for automobiles - The invention includes a method and system to provide a competitive pricing tool so that automobile dealers can more efficiently and effectively price their used vehicles. The system achieves the optimal sales price by obtaining the relevant pricing and mileage of vehicles for sale that are similarly situated to the focus vehicle. Once the information is obtained, the system creates a value ranking for each of the vehicles for sale and for the focus vehicle. The user is then able to revise the focus vehicle pricing to determine the optimal sales price. The invention also provides information to the potential customer about the vehicle for sale, including information relating to other similar vehicles for sale in a particular geographical area that can be accessed at the point of sale, or by the customer at a later time and place. The party offering the product for sale is informed each time the customer accesses the information, thereby indicating the level of interest by the customer. The invention further provides a stocking tool to determine when to purchase additional vehicles for inventory, a merchandising view to review and revise advertisements, and an automatic description generator for the particular vehicle being sold.

04-08-2010

20100088157

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE THROTTLED DELIVERY OF ADVERTISEMENTS AND CONTENT BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE OF USAGE - A system and method for adjusting the frequency of content delivery to a communication device based on the frequency of a user's interaction with the communication device. A method of scheduling and displaying content on a communication device includes collecting data representing a user's interaction with the communication device, transmitting the data from the communication device to a scheduler, assigning the communication device to a use category, the use category assigned based on the number of interactions the user has with the communication device during a period of time, transmitting a signal to the scheduler upon an interaction with the communication device, incrementing a counter at the remote scheduler upon receiving the signal, and periodically displaying content on the communication device based on the use category and the counter.

04-08-2010

20100088150

CLOUD COMPUTING LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT FOR N-TIER APPLICATIONS - Methods, devices, and systems for management of a cloud computing environment for use by a software application. The cloud computing environment may be an N-tier environment. Multiple cloud providers may be used to provide the cloud computing environment.

04-08-2010

20100082405

Multi-period-ahead Forecasting - Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for multi-period-ahead forecasting. One embodiment is a method that applies a first forecasting algorithm to static historical data to generate a first forecast into a future time period and applies a second forecasting algorithm to dynamic data obtained for a current time period to generate a second forecast. The first and second forecasts are combined to generate forecasts for future time periods.

04-01-2010

20100017273

Method Apparatus, and System for Grouping Transportation Services - Grouping transportation lanes is disclosed. Transportation lanes include origination and destination location information, and also have associated values. The grouping includes creating an origination area, creating a destination area, compiling lanes into a lot, and making a determination with respect to the number of carriers available to operate in a lot area.

CALL CENTER ANALYTICAL SYSTEM HAVING REAL TIME CAPABILITIES - The present invention relates to a corporation call center system having real time capabilities, which comprises: (a) storage for at least a portion of the operational database of the corporation; (b) analysis module for analyzing the data of said storage, and forming model tables describing some selling and purchasing pattern of behavior as realized from prior knowledge, and model engine programs for operating with said model tables; (c) model engine programs for: (c.1.) initially, and in real time during a specific interaction with a customer, substituting real values relating to said specific interaction in said model tables, and determining respectively a most valuable parameter for the corporation or a ranking list of most valuable parameters which has to be obtained from said customer, and providing the same to a real time engine for introduction in real time to said customer; and (c.2.) upon receipt of real, value for said most valuable parameter from the customer, determining in real time by using said model tables a most attractive product or a ranking list of most attractive products, and conveying the same to said real time engine for introduction as an offer to said customer; (d) a real time engine for: (d.1.) during said interaction of an agent with a specific customer, receiving from said model engine programs either said most valuable parameter for the corporation or said ranking list of most valuable parameters, and introducing the same as a real time message to the agent for questioning by the agent from the client a real value for the same, and upon receipt of said real value from said agent, conveying it to said model engine programs; (d.2.) receiving from said model engine programs an indication relating to a most attractive product or a ranking list of most attractive products, and initiating in real time a respective message to the agent notifying him to offer the customer one or more of said most attractive products.

01-21-2010

20100017261

EXPERT SYSTEM AND SERVICE FOR LOCATION-BASED CONTENT INFLUENCE FOR NARROWCAST - A method and system are provided for influencing media playback by target users in a defined geographic area in order to create social groups for targeted advertising. In one embodiment, an expert system receives input from an advertisement agency defining a geographic area of interest and an advertisement strategy for the geographic area of interest. The expert system then influences media playback by target users located within the geographic area of interest in a manner that influences creation of one or more social groups centered around media playback and satisfying the advertisement strategy for the geographic area of interest. When there is convergence between a social group created via the influence of the expert system and the advertisement strategy, the expert system notifies one or more advertisement systems, which, in response, present targeted advertisements to the target users forming the social group.

Hypothesis development based on selective reported events - A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring events data including data indicating incidence of a first one or more reported events and data indicating incidence of a second one or more reported events, at least one of the first one or more reported events and the second one or more reported events being associated with a user; determining an events pattern based selectively on the incidences of the first one or more reported events and the second one or more reported events; and developing a hypothesis associated with the user based, at least in part, on the determined events pattern. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

05-27-2010

20100131331

COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATED SELECTION, AGGREGATION, CAPTURE, ANALYSIS, AND PRESENTATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INFORMATION - The subject invention is directed to a computer implemented method and system for selecting and presenting information to buyers, sellers, and investors of residential or commercial real estate by licensed residential or commercial real estate agents in a user/server environment accessed through a Web site. The computer implemented method includes accessing a server through a Web site by a licensed residential or commercial real estate agent. The agent provides information relating to an existing or potential client's buying or selling criteria in order to create at least one residential or commercial data request. The data request is transmitted to a real estate Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for processing and the data is returned to the system Web site for presentation processing. The system compiles and organizes the data into a buyer, seller, or investor presentation including data reports, graphic displays, data explanations, and data summaries. The subject invention contains a Settlement Estimates module that does not require the user to be a licensed residential or commercial agent. The Settlement Estimates module estimates current property demand values, projected list prices, anticipated or projected offers, and seller net revenues received at settlement or buyer funds necessary to complete a transaction at settlement. The Settlement Estimates module is associated with specific properties in specific states and cities to account for the total investment necessary to finalize a transaction and account for the varying taxes and settlement closing fees relating to specific jurisdictions. Agents select print, file, or e-mail options for transmitting, delivering, or presenting the information to buyers, sellers or investors to support the client's decision making process. Non-agents may enter the Web site to access settlement information that does not require a residential or commercial real estate license and does not require access to the Multiple Listing Service. Both licensed agents and non-licensed users store the processed information and system outputs on the Web site for reference, updating, or comparative analysis.

05-27-2010

20100145768

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROJECTING FINANCIALS AND FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS WIZARD - System and method for projecting financials in the form of a financial projections wizard asks a franchise operator to identify anticipated sales and expenses over a period of years and produces an income statement from the answers provided for subsequent use by potential investors. Various features of the financial projections wizard includes simplified selectable answers, ease-of-use, assessment and identification of discrepancies in the numbers provided, acceptance of user identification of anticipated sales and other projected values in non-annual terms, and a series of questions specifically designed to assist and enable non-financially sophisticated franchise operators in producing a reliable multiple-year income statement.

06-10-2010

20100114667

Fast Planning Heuristic for Batch and Interactive Planning - A system and method is disclosed for incremental planning using a list based heuristic. The system includes a database storing supply chain entity data and a server system coupled with the database. The server system receives demand for one or more end items from one or more of the supply chain entities within a supply chain network and collapses the supply chain network into one or more flowpaths for each of the one or more end items. The server system also sorts the one or more flowpaths based on one or more rules or parameters stored in the database and reduces the one or more flowpaths using constraints stored in the database. The server system further generates a supply chain plan by solving the received demand using a list based heuristic stored in the database and communicates the generated supply chain plan to the one or more supply chain entities.

05-06-2010

20100070339

Associating an Entity with a Category - Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for associating an entity with a category includes determining a probability value for each of at least a subset of a plurality of categories, the probability value representing a likelihood that an identified entity belongs to the respective category and determined using information about the entity. The method includes identifying one of the plurality of categories for the entity using the probability value and a rule set for the plurality of categories that is based on training data.

03-18-2010

20090307059

TARIFF GENERATION, INVOICING AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented method of supplying a tariff to a tariff recipient, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving one or more cost curves from one or more suppliers, each cost curve being indicative of variations in the cost of a product or service expected by a respective associated supplier over time; b) receiving a load curve, the load curve being indicative of expected o variations in consumption of the product or service over time; c) calculating a tariff from the load curve received in step b) and the >cost curve received in step a) in accordance with a predetermined algorithm; and d) transmitting the tariff calculated in step c) to the tariff recipient.

12-10-2009

20100063862

MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM AND SYSTEM INCLUDING A MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM AND A BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM - A media delivery system includes a number of inputs structured to input information pertaining to a number of customers, information pertaining to a number of demographics of the number of customers, or information pertaining to a number of products possessed by the number of customers. A media server inputs the number of inputs and determines corresponding marketing information directly pertaining to at least one of the number of customers, the number of demographics or the number of products. A number of media outputs are output from the media server. The number of media outputs output the corresponding marketing information to a corresponding number of the number of customers.

03-11-2010

20100131333

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCT SERVICES ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for analysis and optimization of product services including at least collecting information regarding at least a definition of a media content campaign and a performance of the media content campaign, and compiling the collected information for analysis, wherein the analysis determines the effectiveness of the media content campaign. In addition, historical, systemic or endemic marketing, merchandising, sales, and operational data about intended products or services to be advertised & promoted in the campaign are provided to a system where the system combines this with other campaign independent data and performs analysis that results in a recommendation (or set of recommendations) on what is needed to effectively execute the campaign.

05-27-2010

20100106564

Embeddable Distributed E-Commerce And Community Building System For Digital Media - The present innovation provides a method and a system for embedding e-commerce and community building capability into a seller website, comprising maintaining on an e-commerce server a product database of products sold by a seller, providing a seller script that runs in a web browser for incorporation into at least one web page on the seller website, downloading upon execution of the seller script a dynamic page analyzer from the e-commerce server that, upon execution by the web browser, adds at least one toolbar to the web page, requesting by the web browser, a dynamic cart script, displaying a dynamic cart that enables the buyer to interactively specify an order for the product corresponding to the e-commerce control, and sending the specification of the order to the e-commerce server for fulfillment of the order.

04-29-2010

20100205043

VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM INCLUDING SMART OBJECTS - Embodiments of the invention include a virtual reality system that includes an instrumented device used to present a virtual shopping environment to a simulation participant. The participant's interactions with the virtual shopping environment may be used to conduct market research into the consumer decision making process. The virtual shopping environment may include one or more smart objects configured to be responsive to participant interaction. The virtual shopping environment may recreate a real-world shopping environment.

08-12-2010

20100205042

Integrated risk management process - A method and system allowing the analysis of risk through the use of Monte Carlo simulation, statistical and data analysis, stochastic forecasting, and optimization. The present invention includes novel methods such as the detailed reporting capabilities coupled with advanced analytical techniques, an integrated risk management process and procedures, adaptive licensing technology, and model profiling and storage procedures.

TRAVEL MARKET ANALYSIS TOOLS - A method, system, and medium are provided for market intelligence tools for travel arrangements. A travel arrangement can be optimized by collecting and analyzing past event data for a desired travel selection. A data analysis engine aggregates, analyzes, and stores historical data of average travel ticket prices, as a function of the day of the year, for a travel selection. Another database analysis includes aggregating day-of-the-week data by the data analysis engine, wherein average travel ticket prices are given as a function of the day of the week, for both the departure day and the return day. Another database analysis includes aggregating advance purchase time data by the data analysis engine, wherein average travel ticket prices are given as a function of the number of days prior to a departure date. These database analyses are combined to form probabilities for the best and worst times to purchase travel tickets.

08-12-2010

20100070336

Providing Customer Relationship Management Application as Enterprise Services - Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having customer relationship management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

03-18-2010

20100070334

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION-BASED MOBILE DEVICE PREDICTIVE SERVICES - Systems and methods for providing predictive services and/or goods to a mobile device user are disclosed. A mobile device is able to obtain location information which is then processed to determine a present location of a user, and a nature of that location may be associated therewith, either by user input or by accessing a database having stored natures for that location. The location and nature may be stored as a record, and/or may be compared to stored records of stored locations and correlated natures. The predictive service makes a determination of possible future locations and natures of the user, different from the present location and nature thereof, to provide offerings to the mobile device.

03-18-2010

20100070340

CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A system and method for distribution of content on a computer network between a plurality of content providers and a plurality of users. A plurality of content provider packets provided by one or more of the content providers are stored, and a link provided to users for access to the content provider packets. When a user activates the link the selected content provider packet is displayed and the user may store the content provider packet in a personal showcase display for future access by the user.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATION, ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND MONETIZATION OF PRICING DATA FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER COMMODITIES - Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner.

03-18-2010

20100070337

PROVIDING SUPPLY CHAIN CONTROL SOFTWARE AS ENTERPRISE SERVICES - Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having supply chain control functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

03-18-2010

20100070335

Method and System for Targeting Online Ads Using Social Neighborhoods of a Social Network - A method and system are provided for targeting online ads using a social neighborhood of a social network. In one example, the method includes identifying a social neighborhood of the social network, calculating an adoption score for each consumer of the social neighborhood, wherein an adoption score is a ranking of a consumer in the social neighborhood according to a predicted number of consumer friends that will make an adoption at a future time, and then sending at least one ad to at least one consumer having a relatively high adoption score.

03-18-2010

20100070341

METHOD FOR THE FOLLOW-UP AND BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT OF PARKS OF ATM TERMINALS BY MEANS OF STATISTICAL ANALYSES AND/OR GENERATION OF GRAPHICS OF UPDATED INDICATORS - The “METHOD FOR THE FOLLOW-UP AND BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT OF PARKS OF ATM TERMINALS BY MEANS OF STATISTICAL ANALYSES AND/OR GENERATION OF GRAPHICS OF UPDATED INDICATORS” is related, more specifically, to a method prominently developed so that the outsourcing clients, owners of networks managed by other companies, such as banks and other companies which utilize ATM terminals, are enabled to perform a follow-up and assessment of the behavior of their parks of ATM terminals by means of statistical analyses and/or the generation of graphics of updated indicators within the shortest period of time possible, thus providing conditions for the making of strategic and operational decisions based on information supplied on-line.

03-18-2010

20100063867

EXCHANGING IDENTIFIERS BETWEEN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TO DETERMINE FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE EXCHANGED OR FURTHER SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED - Techniques for facilitating the exchange of information and transactions between two entities associated with two wireless devices when the devices are in close proximity to each other. A first device uses a first short range wireless capability to detect an identifier transmitted from a second device in proximity, ideally using existing radio capabilities such as Bluetooth (IEEE802.15.1-2002) or Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). The detected identifier, being associated with the device, is also associated with an entity. Rather than directly exchanging application data flow between the two devices using the short range wireless capability, a second wireless capability allows for one or more of the devices to communicate with a central server via the internet, and perform the exchange of application data flow. By using a central server to draw on stored information and content associated with the entities the server can broker the exchange of information between the entities and the devices.

03-11-2010

20100100421

METHODOLOGY FOR SELECTING CAUSAL VARIABLES FOR USE IN A PRODUCT DEMAND FORECASTING SYSTEM - A method to select causal factors to be used within a causal product demand forecasting framework. The methodology determines the set of factors that have statistically significant effects on historical product demand, and hence are believed to be of greatest relevance in determining product demand changes in the future. The effects of all factors are determined simultaneously and the net effect of each variable is calculated. When several factors are operative at the same time, the net influence of each factor is calculated. Lesser and redundant factors in the causal forecasting model can be eliminated to improve the stability, scalability and efficiency of the model. The method is employed to optimize causal models to achieve maximum forecast accuracy.

04-22-2010

20100057535

Method using market-based social networking to create jobs and referral fees - This method uses a jobs-based social networking website and the monetary incentive of a “job reward” to get friends, relatives and other visitors to the website to offer a personal introduction to a company insider in exchange for the exclusive contractual right to receive a contingent referral fee if the introduced person starts a job with the named company within the time period set forth in the contract. Ideally, hundreds if not thousands of people will review a person's profile on the social networking website. If the job candidate is qualified, many offers of introduction will be made. The jobseeker can accept many offers but only one offer of introduction per company or non-profit entity in a given time period. Since the job candidate will only start one job within that relatively short period of time, only one referral fee will need to be paid.

03-04-2010

20100094681

System and Method for Electronically Assisting a Customer at a Product Retail Location - A method is disclosed for electronically assisting a customer through a buying cycle at a product retail location having a product oriented display. The method includes sensing an amount of time the customer is interested in the display. Another operation is determining the customer's stage in a product buying cycle based on the amount of time the customer is interested in the display and displaying product detail based on the customer's stage in the buying cycle. The display can be changed to a subsequent stage in the buying cycle having more time and interaction between the customer and the display.

04-15-2010

20100042476

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TARGET MARKETING AND CATEGORY BASED SEARCH - Disclosed are a system and methods for online marketing of goods and services to consumers. More particularly, a method for target marketing to specific consumers on the Internet based upon the profile of the consumer, including geographic location, is disclosed.

02-18-2010

20100042471

DETERMINATION OF ADVERTISEMENT REFERRER INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES - A software and/or hardware facility for managing the referral of electronic advertisements is described. The facility may be configured to provide advertisements, including coupons, to a referrer and to enable the referrer to forward the advertisements to recipients. The facility also tracks recipient responses to the forwarded advertisements (e.g., redemption of coupons, interactions with the advertisement, rejections of advertisements, etc.). The facility may also be configured to provide incentives and/or disincentives to referrers based on recipient responses to advertisements.

COST AND PARTICIPATION MODELS FOR EXCHANGE THIRD-PARTY INTEGRATION IN ONLINE ADVERTISING - A modeling system to evaluate cost-based viability of a real-time, auction-based advertising system with third-party integration includes an exchange server configured to receive advertising bids, create bid requests to third-party entities based thereon, and select a winning bid from responses to the requests. A computer, coupled with the exchange server: computes a plurality of valid paths from publishers to and from the third-party entities through the exchange server; estimates server and network costs, including fixed hardware costs and variable operational costs, amortized over a predetermined period of time, based on a number of average queries per second (QPS) transmitted at different portions of the valid paths; compares current periodic fees paid by the third-party entities to the amortized costs, to determine cost-based system viability; and determines updates, if needed, to the periodic fees based on the plurality of costs to maintain cost-based system viability.

02-10-2011

20110035258

ADDING CURRENTLY-PREVIEWED MEDIA TITLE TO LIST FOR FUTURE USE - A user viewing a preview of a media title using a media player can elect to add that media title to a list for future use, such as a future rentals list maintained by a rental media provider. The media player communicates with the rental media provider for updating a list for the user which is stored at (or accessible to) the provider. Optionally, a filtering capability may be provided to suppress viewing of particular previews which are stored on media inserted into the media player (for example, because the user has already rented the previewed media title, because the preview does not match filtering criteria such as parental controls, etc.). The filtering may comprise preventing media titles from being added to the future rentals list. Optionally, substitute previews may be provided for the previews which are suppressed by the filtering.

02-10-2011

20110035256

Systems and methods for prioritized selection of media properties for providing user profile information used in advertising - Providing collected profiles by selecting one or more media properties and providing to each selected media property at least one profile attribute in a manner sufficient to enable the selected media property to electronically associate the provided profile attribute with the electronic visitor. Selected media properties can be a subset of one or more identified media properties. The media properties are selected or identified automatically, responsive to receiving current profile information about the visitor, among a multitude of media properties, based on a comparison of current and/or previous profile information received with previously received individualized requests for specific profiles, kinds of profiles, or profiles having specific attributes of interest to each of the media properties. A media property can be selected among those identified based on a media property selection history.

02-10-2011

20110035257

Systems And Methods For Generating Planograms In The Presence Of Multiple Objectives - Systems and methods for an item placement configuration optimization are provided. A system and method can include receiving a first selection including two or more first items corresponding to a first level in an item placement configuration. A first score is determined for the first selection by applying an algorithm to data corresponding to the first items. A second selection including two or more second items and corresponding to a second level in the item placement configuration is received. A second score for the second selection is determined by applying an algorithm to the first score and data corresponding to the second items.

02-10-2011

20110035255

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUPPORTING USER GENERATED ADVERTISING TRANSACTIONS IN A VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDER ENVIRONMENT - In one embodiment, a system stores video clips which a user can select and use to create an ad video. The user can download the video clip, edit it appropriate, and then upload the ad video to the system. The user can then place the ad with a cable service provider as part of an ad campaign. The system allows the user to view available advertising opportunities with one or more video service providers, such as a cable service provider, and then define attributes of an ad campaign defining how and when to stream the ad in various programs. The ad campaign can place the ad in on-demand programs or schedule (broadcast) programs. The user can also be provided with reports indicating in part when the ad was actually streamed, allowing the user evaluate the performance of the ad campaign.

02-10-2011

20100070342

REGIONAL DEMAND AND SUPPLY COMPARISON - A computerized method and a system for comparing regional demand and supply are provided. Example embodiments may include receiving a criterion to identify an item and searching a database for data associated with demand and/or supply for the item identified by the criterion. The computerized method may also include presenting a geographic distribution of demand, supply, and/or net-demand for the item on a map. The map may display multiple geographic areas; each one of the multiple geographic areas may be displayed with a first and a second attribute. The first and the second attributes may be associated with the demand, supply, and/or the net-demand.

03-18-2010

20100017269

METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING IMAGES OF FEATURED ARTICLES AND FOR MERGING OF THE IMAGES - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion.

01-21-2010

20100017272

VIEWING IMAGES FOR REVIEW IN MERGED IMAGE FORM AND WITH PARAMETER-BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - A method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a matching scheme using codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to an article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the article and the structure satisfy a category-matching criterion. In certain embodiments, the articles are represented by (search) parameters that permit organizational advantages.

01-21-2010

20100017259

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF AUTOMATICALLY SETTING AND CHANGING PRICE FOR ONLINE CONTENT SELLING - A system, method, and product that enable users to conveniently receive financial benefits from publishing content online are described. A price for a piece of content is dynamically set in the following manner. The piece of content is initially published for free, and categorized for a related category. Related user activities are tracked and used by a business rule to determine a marketability value for the piece of content. If the marketability value exceeds a threshold, a price is determined by applying a pricing algorithm to the marketability value. Subsequent accesses to the piece of content are subject to the price. User activities related to the piece of content are continuously tracked and used to adjust the price.

01-21-2010

20100017268

System to Quantify Consumer Preferences - A user interface includes a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the graphical elements representing a respective attribute level of a product attribute, a first area for presenting at least one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by a respondent as representing an unacceptable attribute level, a second area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a least-preferred attribute level, and a third area for presenting one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that has been designated by the respondent as representing a most-preferred attribute level.

01-21-2010

20100017266

Method and Apparatus for Prioritizing a Listing of Information Providers - A method and apparatus for prioritizing a listing of information providers according to a fee value and availability status indicated for the information providers, and providing a set of one or more information provider identifiers that satisfy a request for a type of information provider that has been received from a user over the Internet. The set of information provider identifiers are ranked according to their associated fee values and availability status. A set of one or more files are generated to display the set of information provider identifiers. The set of files are transmitted to the user, and the user is provided access to an information provider identified by one of the set of information provider identifiers.

METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR USER PROFILE-BASED VIEWABLE IMAGES AND FOR MERGING OF THE IMAGES - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion.

01-21-2010

20100017270

METHODS, SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR CATEGORIZATION OF ARTICLES AND ASSOCIATED IMAGES AND FOR IMAGE MERGING THEREOF - An e-commerce method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a color matching scheme using color codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to a colored article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a colored structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the colored article and the colored structure satisfy a color-matching criterion.

01-21-2010

20100017267

SUPPLY CHAIN AND INVENTORY RISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system and method for supply chain and inventory risk management that supplies inventory from a manufacturer to a plurality of customers. An owner entity of the system is transferred a plurality of customer agreements which describe requirements for the distribution of the inventory to the customers in agreed-upon amounts in exchange for agreed-upon payments. Transfer of the customer agreements allows an electronic system of the owner entity to forecast and place orders purchasing from the manufacturer the amount of inventory that will be needed by the customers. Further, the transfer of the agreements increases the certainty that inventory purchased by the owner will be sold to the customer. The electronic owner system may also commission the services of a logistics agent that is capable of providing shipping and handling services customized to high-risk inventory, such as electronic components, increasing the owner's profit on the sale of the inventory.

01-21-2010

20100017260

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIRAL MARKETING WITHIN A VIRTUAL WORLD - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, including generating one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU) and monitoring information from the VU. Additionally, the method includes directing the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more viral advertisements in the VU based on the information.

01-21-2010

20100004976

DEMAND CURVE ANALYSIS METHOD FOR ANALYZING DEMAND PATTERNS - The present disclosure describes novel methods that can be utilized to analyze demand patterns for one or more products based on time series data for the product(s) such as order history, shipment history, and point of sale history. The data may be organized into one or more hierarchies and may contain one or more attributes.

01-07-2010

20100076811

DYNAMICALLY PROVIDING DIGITAL CONTENT FROM RELEVANT SOURCES AND IDENTIFYING CONTENT DISPLAY OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS DYNAMICALLY PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS FROM RELATED PUBLICATIONS AND INDENTIFYING TARGET ADVERTISERS - A method and system for facilitating management of content display opportunities, such as management of advertising accounts of a magazine publisher, includes recommendations, talking points, and a user interface for displaying content, such as digital images of magazine advertisements. Recommended content display opportunities, such as recommended advertisers for a publication associated with a user, are presented to the user based on information related to the user and information related to multiple advertisers. In addition, recommended discussion points for a communication with a content provider, such as an advertiser, may be provided. The method and system also include a user interface for presenting content from multiple content sources, such as digital images of magazine advertisements from multiple magazines, including magazines that are not associated with the user. Digital images of magazine advertisements may be displayed in response to selection by the user of a magazine, an issue, and an advertiser.

03-25-2010

20100076819

System and Method for Distilling Data and Feedback From Customers to Identify Fashion Market Information - A system and method is described herein for pulling information from numerous areas from manufacturers to end users to generate a total market map of the creation, use, and disposition of all products in a market. The system allows a customer to look at items, and suggest or request modifications from a manufacturer. This system may use known data, such as body measurements and body shape, to determine which products may meet the needs of a large subset of consumers. This also includes gathering profile information about users, such as fashion style and lifestyle preferences, shopping and spending habits, site browsing and usage history, and other demographic and psychographic data to discover market segments and the types of items most likely to be desired or purchased by consumers in each segment.

03-25-2010

20100076814

METHOD FOR FINANCIAL FORECASTING FOR ASSOCIATIONS USING ACTUARIAL OPEN GROUP SIMULATION - In a method for financial forecasting for an association having current dues paying members and which will have future new dues paying members, a computer and a computer-readable medium are provided having a program operable with the computer. Association variables to be forecast are defined as desired program outputs and including for each of a plurality of periods at least total dues revenue. A total number of the current members, dues paid by each current member, at least one of actual age or estimated age of each current member, and a future dues predictor variable are input to the program. Using at least the actual or estimated age of each current member, it is projected when each of the current members would have a change in dues paying status or would no longer be a member of the association. Using a defined growth rate characteristic for the association, for each of the periods a number of the new dues paying members is projected which will join the association. For each of the projected new members, at least an age for each of the new members and dues for each of the new members based on the future dues predictor variable are projected. It is also projected when each new member would have a change in dues paying status or would no longer be a member of the association. From the inputs the program calculates the desired outputs for each of the periods.

03-25-2010

20100010878

PREDICTIVE MODEL DEVELOPMENT - Models are generated using a variety of tools and features of a model generation platform. For example, in connection with a project in which a user generates a predictive model based on historical data about a system being modeled, the user is provided through a graphical user interface a structured sequence of model generation activities to be followed, the sequence including dimension reduction, model generation, model process validation, and model re-generation.

01-14-2010

20100057541

Systems of Influencing Shoppers at the First Moment of Truth in a Retail Establishment - Provided herein are systems and methods for influencing shoppers while they consider making purchasing decisions in a retail establishment. Specifically, the systems and methods for influencing shoppers may occur during a shopper's first moment of truth by transmitting through a communication network one or more influential messages to a handheld wireless electronic device or intelligent shopping cart, which is in close proximity to a shopper during a shopping trip throughout a retail establishment.

METHOD OF, AND SYSTEM FOR, REAL ESTATE INDEX GENERATION - A method and system for generating a real estate property index uses real estate data including price data, property data and time of sale data that are entered into a computing apparatus. The time of sale data is manipulated to provide consecutive triple times giving two consecutive time periods (e.g., March, April, May 2007 and April, May, June 2007). A transform function, preferably a log function, is generated with two time dummy variables, and the coefficients of the two time dummy variables are extracted and added to generate a transformed growth rate. The reverse transform function, preferably an anti-log function, is generated to provide the desired untransformed growth rate.

03-04-2010

20100057537

Online Qualitative Research Support System - A system and method for coordinating and conducting qualitative research interviews over a distributed communication system is presented. The system is controlled from a central point by the user.

03-04-2010

20100057536

System And Method For Providing Community-Based Advertising Term Disambiguation - A computer-implemented system and method for providing community-based advertising term disambiguation is provided. Articles of digital information and a plurality of social indexes that are each associated with a social community are maintained. Each social index includes topics that each relate to one or more of the articles. The social community exhibiting the most closely-matched similarity to the advertising content is chosen based on their social indexes. The advertising content with the articles related to the topics included in the social index of the social community chosen is placed.

03-04-2010

20100057534

ADVERTISING-BUYING OPTIMIZATION METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS - A method, system, and apparatus for optimizing advertising buying is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining data on media consumption habits of a defined set of individuals; optionally matching the data on media consumption habits to a database containing information regarding the individuals; optionally aggregating the data on media consumption habits by each individual; optionally recoding the data on media consumption habits using predetermined criteria to obtain recoded data; optionally removing the data on media consumption habits to obtain the recoded data only; creating clusters based on media consumption habits of the individuals; optionally creating profiles of each cluster to obtain defined clusters; optionally identifying the defined clusters; creating media consumption profiles for each defined cluster; optionally determining non-targeted individuals reached by each potential buy for each defined cluster; optionally attaching costs to each potential buy for each defined cluster; defining buys based on maximum coverage of the targeted individuals, optionally minimum coverage of non-targeted individuals, and optionally the lowest cost; and obtaining an optimized rank-ordered list of buys for one or more one or more media buyers.

03-04-2010

20100057528

METHODS FOR RENDERING ADVERTISEMENT MESSAGES BY THE USE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A method is disclosed for rendering advertisement messages to a user. A display screen of a mobile device is used to present an advertisement message during and after a voice communication. The user may decide to view the message or to ignore the message after the voice communication is terminated. There is no user input action is required if the user decides to ignore the message. A plurality of user selectable items is then displayed on the screen accompanied by the displayed message if the user selects the message for further review. The user selectable items may include at least one icon representing a folder contains other advertisement messages which may intrigue the user. In another aspect of the present invention, contents of the voice communication is analyzed by converting words used in the communication into a text form of the words and then comparing the words with a list of words in a file representing commercial interest of an average user. The message is rendered based upon the determined user's commercial interests.

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CALIBRATE A CHOICE FORECASTING SYSTEM FOR USE IN MARKET SHARE FORECASTING - Methods and apparatus to calibrate a choice forecasting system for use in market share forecasting are disclosed. An example disclosed method comprises obtaining market research data to determine a plurality of choice probabilities and a plurality of segment weights, each choice probability representing a probability that a respective population segment will choose a respective alternative from a plurality of alternatives and each segment weight representing a weight of a respective population segment in an overall population, and performing a calibration procedure to calibrate the plurality of choice probabilities and plurality of segment weights, the calibration procedure configured to preserve before and after calibration relative contributions of a pair of population segments to a first choice share corresponding to a first alternative, the first choice share for the first alternative determinable from the plurality of segment weights and a subset of the plurality of choice probabilities corresponding to the first alternative.

METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CLIENT ACQUISITION AND SURVEYING - A method, system and computer program for enabling a loyalty system to be linked to one or more card issuers, cardholders, merchants, and thereby their cardholders. A system operable to create, implement and manage one or more loyalty programs that provide benefits to members of the loyalty programs in connection with transactions between the members and one or more merchants associated with the loyalty system. The method includes registering on the loyalty system one or more card issuers; one or more merchant acquirers associated with the one or more card issuers; a plurality of cardholders as members of the loyalty program. Establishing and applying rules for accrual and processing of benefits from the merchants to cardholders associated with the one or more card issuers in connection with transactions between the cardholders and the merchants with the loyalty system. Defining a rule based survey utility operable to issue surveys to members of the loyalty system on a transaction and non-transaction basis.

07-08-2010

20100174583

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MODELLING - A system and method for automatically or semi-automatically analyzing business processes including elements for or processes for: monitoring business activities as conducted by a user of a target software application by monitoring the computer screens viewed by the user and user-system interaction; using pattern matching to determine the semantic elements of each computer screen and action; using screen element identity relationships to compare screens and develop process flows based on a sequence of the computer screens and the user-system interaction; using process flow end-point comparisons to synthesize business process fragments from the process flows; and combining business process fragments to create a business process model.

07-08-2010

20090319342

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATING AND SUMMARIZING PRODUCT/TOPIC SENTIMENT - Documents are collected from a variety of publicly available sources that contain product data including product reviews, product specifications, price information and the like. Snippets of text obtained from the documents are analyzed for relevance, sentiment, credibility and other aspects that help evaluate the quality of a product. Feature vectors are computed for snippets to analyze relevance, sentiment, or credibility. Statistical analysis is performed on the feature vectors to estimate a measure of the relevance, sentiment, or credibility. Factors associated with various snippets are aggregated to compute a quality score for a product or a particular aspect of product including product features, attributes, usages, or user personas. Information is displayed on a user interface that allows the user to examine the details relevant to computation of the quality score.

12-24-2009

20090313091

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SYMBOLIC MODE CHECKING OF BUSINESS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS - A system and method for providing symbolic mode checking of business application requirements. A language allows for building a model for the business process, the model comprising a plurality of actions, with each action having a precondition and a postcondition or outcome. Specifications are constructed for the properties of the business applications with the specifications describing both the states of the business process and the order in which they may occur. Finally, the model and the specifications are analyzed to determine if the model satisfies the specifications. If the model fails to satisfy the specifications, a problem may be indicated in the business application. The process can be automated to permit the system to make assumptions for conducting a thorough analysis of selected potential problem areas in the application.

12-17-2009

20100205039

DEMAND FORECASTING - At least a first future external event is obtained as input. At least one future effect of the at least one future external event is predicted. The at least first future external event is similar to at least a first past external event. Future utilization of at least one tangible resource is forecast by superimposing events-normalized forecasted data and the at least one predicted future effect of the at least one future event similar to the at least first past external event.

08-12-2010

20100191579

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSTOMIZING PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT PROCESS TO IMPROVE PRODUCT EFFECTIVENESS - A method for improving product effectiveness of a New Product Development (NPD) process by customizing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) of an organization is provided. The method comprises diagnosing current status of the organization with respect to one or more product effectiveness parameters. The method further comprises generating a set of initiatives for the organization based on diagnosis. The method furthermore comprises customizing the PLM using one or more solution accelerators corresponding to one or more initiatives.

07-29-2010

20100191581

OBJECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT MANAGEMENT - A method to manage achieving an objective may include collecting data related to the objective and determining a set of drivers related to the objective. The method may also include calculating a gap for each driver between a baseline and a goal for the objective. The method may further include analyzing the gap to associate a quantity of gap points with each driver to achieve the goal.

07-29-2010

20100030617

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORECASTING PRINT JOB RELATED DEMAND - There is provided a print demand forecasting system and method for use with a print production system in which print demand data is collected for each print job processed during a selected time interval. The collected print demand data is stored in memory and then processed to obtain a first time series component and a second time series component. The first and second time series components are corresponded respectively with first and second forecast models. One of the first and second forecast models is selected with an S process, and the selected one of the first and second forecast models is used to obtain forecast data.

02-04-2010

20100262461

System and Method for Web-Based Consumer-to-Business Referral - A method for automatically crediting a registered user for referring a candidate third-party entity to an online system, where the candidate entity is at least one of a commercial, government, or non-profit entity where the online system facilitates transactions between a plurality of users and a plurality of participating third-party entities, and where the online commercial system maintains a personal account for each registered user, includes receiving a transaction request from the candidate third-party entity, receiving an identifier associated with the transaction request such that the identifier corresponds to the registered user, identifying the registered user using the identifier, retrieving a crediting rule associated with the transaction request, and automatically crediting the registered consumer in accordance with the crediting rule.

10-14-2010

20090313084

USER SELECTABLE GAME INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN ASSET - Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images.

12-17-2009

20100169168

Categorization of Summarized Information - A system for categorizing transactions includes a collection function gathering information concerning transactions, including at least date, description and amount of the transactions, for a particular person or enterprise, and a processing function categorizing individual ones of the collected transactions according to at least part of the transaction description.

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Embodiments of the present invention provide a CRM system for use by a plurality of users. The system includes a plurality of client profiles comprised of general data profiles and product-specific profiles, each comprising a plurality of data parameters. Each client profile template is owned by an administrator. Each product-specific profile is owned (across a given client profile template) by a given product specialist. Each data parameter has a plurality of data values assignable to it and each user has access to at least some of the data parameters for a (non confidential) client profile and is authorized to modify the data value assigned to the data parameter to which he has access. The modified data values can be stored as temporary data for that client profile. At least one user can still directly edit new data values and validate existing temporary data values as updated data values.

07-15-2010

20100268578

INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM - The information providing system accurately predicts a behavior pattern of a user, selects and provides the optimal information at individual points in time. Provision information files (F

10-21-2010

20100268577

Systematic Social Commerce - A platform for brand owners to identify brand advocates, mobilize the brand advocates to act on behalf of the brand, and manage and track advocate activity. A brand manager may configure a brand advocate service on a platform provided by the present system. Brand service configuration may involve configuring how a brand advocate is selected as well as configuring one or more surveys, polls, electronic cards, user rewards, and other service features for the brand advocate to utilize when promoting the brand.

10-21-2010

20100268574

TRACKING USER PROFILE INFLUENCE IN A DIGITAL MEDIA SYSTEM - Methods and systems for tracking user profile influence in a digital media system are provided. One exemplary method includes computing connection weights of connections between a plurality of user nodes, each user node representing a user profile of the digital media system, to thereby generate an influence network. The connection weights may be based on implicit activity notifications received at a media server via a plurality of media clients associated with the user nodes. The method may further include calculating a dynamic influence score for each of the user nodes based on the connection weights between the user nodes in the influence network. The method may further include comparing the dynamic influence scores to an influence score threshold to determine one or more lead user nodes, and sending an influence reward to the media clients associated with the one or more lead user nodes.

10-21-2010

20100268573

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING SUPPLEMENTAL AUDIO BEACONING IN AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT - An audio beacon system, apparatus and method for collecting information on a panelist's exposure to media. An audio beacon is configured as on-device encoding technology that is operative in a panelist's processing device (e.g., cell phone, PDA, PC) to enable the device to encode an acoustic tone and transmit it for a predetermined period of time. The acoustically transmitted data is received and processed by a portable audience measurement device, such as Arbitron's Personal People Meter™ (“PPM”), or other specially equipped portable device to enable audience measurement systems to achieve higher levels of detail on panel member activity and greater association of measurement devices to their respective panelists.

10-21-2010

20100268572

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A PRINT- PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT - An inventory management system for forecasting demand in a print production environment may include a computing device and a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions for updating a predictive model with intervention information comprising an anticipated demand value and a confidence value associated with the anticipated demand value. The predictive model may be associated with a demand distribution of a print-related service. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions for generating a demand forecast associated with the print-related service by using the updated predictive model, using the generated demand forecast to compare a current inventory level associated with the print-related service to an anticipated inventory level associated with the demand forecast of the print-related service, and ordering additional inventory in response to the current inventory level being less than the anticipated inventory level.

10-21-2010

20090307049

Soft Co-Clustering of Data - The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes accessing a data structure that includes information about purchasers, merchants, and financial transactions between the purchasers and the merchants and generating purchaser clusters. Generating purchaser clusters includes clustering the purchasers based on which purchasers make purchases from the same or similar merchants. Each purchaser cluster adopts associations between purchasers belonging to the purchase cluster and merchants from which these purchasers have made purchases. The method also includes generating merchant clusters, where generating the merchant clusters includes clustering merchants based on which merchants are associated with the same or similar purchase clusters and outputting profile information that characterizes typical purchases associated with one or more of the merchant clusters for use in detecting fraudulent transactions.

12-10-2009

20100121678

CALCULATING PRODUCTION CAPACITY, CAPACITY UTILIZATION, DEMAND ALLOCATION, AND AVERAGE INVENTORY LEVELS - A processor is programmed to access the production rate of the one or more machines configured to make the one or more products stored in the memory area, access a demand rate for the one or more products stored in the memory area, calculate a production capacity of the one or more machines based on the production rate of the one or more products on the one or more machines, determine a capacity utilization based on the accessed demand rate for the one or more products and the calculated production capacity of the one or more machines, and present the determined capacity utilization to a user. An efficient demand allocation may also be determined for the machines.

05-13-2010

20100114669

Optimized Deployment of Parts in a Distribution Network - A method for deploying parts is disclosed. Locations that include supply locations and demand locations are defined. A supply location supplies parts to a demand location. A demand is computed for each part at each location. An availability lead-time is estimated for each part at each location. A lead-time demand is computed for each part at each location using the availability lead-times for the part. A stock level is computed for each part at each location. A completely filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels, and a partially filled demand is determined from the lead-time demands and the stock levels. A coverage function for the parts at the locations is generated from the completely filled demand and the partially filled demand.

05-06-2010

20090259521

Method of Identifying Innovations Possessing Business Disrupting Properties - The instant invention involves a method for determining the expected presence of disruptive business process innovations by performing various nonlinear dynamic processes and analysis with both expected data values and referenced data values. After processing the necessary data, the method allows for the prediction of said disruptive business processes innovations (i.e. innovations that have a game changing effect on the market or markets to which the innovation belongs). After determining the presence or non-presence of any disruptive business process innovations, the method comprises steps for providing advice to users of said method. Further, the instant invention encompasses variants of its method that are facilitated by the use of at least one computing machine.

10-15-2009

20090259518

ANALYZING RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS USING CROSS-CORRELATION OF MULTIPLE DATA SOURCES - In various embodiments, strategies, tools and techniques are provided for processing and analyzing data in an advertising measurement system accessible through a software-as-a-service model or a client-downloaded computer program. The system may be configured to receive and process household media exposure data, product purchase data, advertising data, program data, and demographic data, wherein the data may be obtained from various sources, including from a program delivery source (e.g., a television set-top box) located in a household of a consumer. The data may be matched and cross-correlated for calculating return on advertising investment measurements and other metrics. The data may be used to optimize media placement generally or to address advertising content to specific households. Methods for storing data in the advertising measurement system by distributing the data across multiple shards are also provided. In addition, methods for protecting privacy of communicated data are disclosed.

10-15-2009

20100106565

Embeddable Distributed E-Commerce And Community Building System - The present innovation provides a method and a system for embedding e-commerce and community building capability into a seller website, comprising maintaining on an e-commerce server a product database of products sold by a seller, providing a seller script that runs in a web browser for incorporation into at least one web page on the seller website, downloading upon execution of the seller script a dynamic page analyzer from the e-commerce server that, upon execution by the web browser, adds at least one toolbar to the web page, requesting by the web browser, a dynamic cart script, displaying a dynamic cart that enables the buyer to interactively specify an order for the product corresponding to the e-commerce control, and sending the specification of the order to the e-commerce server for fulfillment of the order.

04-29-2010

20100106561

Forecasting Using Share Models And Hierarchies - Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for forecasting product sales. Market shares associated with a product are estimated. Sales for a share group are forecast based upon a seasonality component and a trend prediction. A product sales forecast is calculated based upon the forecasted sales for a share group and the estimated product market share.

04-29-2010

20100106555

System and Method for Hierarchical Weighting of Model Parameters - A computer-implemented method estimates model parameters for a product. The method includes storing transaction data from customer sales in a database. The transaction data includes a product and a store. The database includes a hierarchical categorization of the products or the stores. The method includes generating a model for each product at each store in the database. The models include model parameters. The method includes aggregating first and second sets of model parameters from a first set of products occupying a first node of the hierarchical categorization and a second set of products occupying a second node of the hierarchical categorization, weighting the first and second sets of model parameters, and storing the average of the weighted first and second sets of model parameters in the database as the model parameters for a model of a product.

04-29-2010

20100125488

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IN MOBILE TERMINAL - An apparatus and method for effectively operating Supply Chain Management (SCM) emerging as a management scheme preferred by mobile terminal manufacturers are provided. The method includes, upon detection of initial booting, gathering at least one of mobile terminal identifier information, product information, and subscriber location information, generating a sales information message comprising the gathered information, and transmitting the generated sales information message. Accordingly, an SCM system is reliably implemented in advance and determines statistical data regarding a time of sales of the mobile terminal. Further, the SCM system may determine statistical data for preferred models and colors of the mobile terminal. In addition, the determined statistical data may be utilized as marketing information or may be usefully utilized for point-of-sales inventory management by performing demand prediction.

05-20-2010

20100125484

REVIEW SUMMARIES FOR THE MOST RELEVANT FEATURES - A method, system, and medium are provided for capsule summaries of reviews, such as product and service reviews. Raw comments and reviews are collected from several sources, which can be obtained from different locations, such as Internet sites. A number of features for each product or service category are developed, which are then correlated to the collected comments and reviews. A rating is assigned to each comment and review, which indicates the level of positivity or negativity of the comment or review. Ratings for each feature are combined to give an overall rating of the product or service under review. More relevant results, such as the most positive and the most negative reviews of each feature, along with the overall rating, are returned to a user to provide a quick summary of the selected product or service. If a user would like more details or more results, options are provided to go deeper into the capsule summary to obtain as much information or detail as desired.

05-20-2010

20110054983

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING TARGETED CONTENT TO WEBSITE VISITORS - A method of selecting a website for delivery of targeted content to an audience member computer based on attitude values associated with audience members who participate in a computer implemented survey is disclosed. The survey response information, as well as website visitation information, and demographic information associated with the audience members may be collected and stored in a central database. An attitude value may be determined from the survey response information and/or the other information for the audience members. The attitude value may indicate the audience member's view about an issue, topic, product, service or the like. The attitude value in conjunction with other website visitation information may be used to select a website for delivery of the targeted content to the audience members.

03-03-2011

20110054982

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RANDOMIZING STARTING RETAIL STORE INVENTORY WHEN DETERMINING DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND WAREHOUSE DEMAND FORECASTS - A method and system for determining distribution center or warehouse product order quantities of a slow selling product. The method includes the step of determining for each one of a plurality of stores supplied by the distribution center, a store order forecast for the slow selling product. The method generates a random beginning on-hand inventory value for stores with inventories below a minimum inventory threshold value. Store order forecasts are thereafter determined by subtracting the random beginning on-hand inventory value from store sales forecasts when the beginning on-hand inventory value is less than the minimum inventory threshold value, and subtracting the actual beginning on-hand inventory value from the store sales forecasts when the beginning on-hand inventory value is not less than the minimum inventory threshold value. The individual store order forecasts are accumulated to generate a distribution center demand forecast; which is compared with current and projected inventory levels for the product at the distribution center to determine distribution center order quantities necessary for maintaining a product inventory level sufficient to meet the distribution center demand forecast for the product.

03-03-2011

20090276289

System and Method for Predicting Likelihood of Customer Attrition and Retention Measures - The present invention relates to a system and method for customer retention. Historical transaction and customer data may be received from stores. Likewise, recent customer transaction data may be received from the stores. The transactions are linked to each customer. Attriters, historical customers who discontinued shopping, are identified. Next, risk factors for attrition may be identified by examining the attriters' transaction history for commonalities. From the risk factors a loss model may be generated. The loss model may be used, in conjunction with current transaction data, to generate the likelihood of loss for each of the current customers, which may then be reported. Retention measures may be generated for each customer by comparing the customer's transactions to the loss model and the risk factors. The retention measures may be outputted to the stores, and a price optimization system. Likewise, the retention measures may be validated by comparing actual customer loss to the loss model.

11-05-2009

20090259526

SYSTEM FOR VALUATING USERS AND USER GENERATED CONTENT IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - A system for valuating users and user generated content in a collaborative environment is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, responses to the item, and ratings for each response. The processor may receive responses from the users based on the item provided by the content provider. The processor may receive ratings from the users for each of the responses. The processor may determine a response quality score for each response if the number of users who viewed the response satisfies a view threshold. The response quality score may be based on the ratings received for each response and the number of users who viewed each response. The processor may transform each response and the response quality score of each response into a graphical representation and may provide the graphical representation to the content provider.

SYSTEM FOR TRIGGERING TERMINALS - A method and a system are proposed, wherein all the terminals of a physical unit and a control appliance are connected to a physically separate control center via a base terminal appliance. This control center has the base terminal appliances of further physical units connected to it. In addition, the control center has producers connected to it which manufacture the terminals or supply services for the terminals or types of terminals. To actuate the terminals, provision is made for selection processes which are input on the control appliance to be conveyed via the control center to the producers of the appliances, from where the control signals produced there are supplied via the control center to the relevant terminals. There is thus no direct connection made between a type of remote control and the appliance controlled by it.

10-22-2009

20090248496

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING MARKET ANALYSIS FROM ANONYMOUS BEHAVIOR PROFILES - A system and method is disclosed for profiling subjects and objects based on subjects' responses to various objects for purposes of determining and presenting the objects most likely to generate the most likely response from each visitor. Object ratings, such as aesthetic response, preference, interest, or relevancy, are explicitly submitted by subjects or derived implicitly from visitor interactions with the objects. Objects include movies, books, songs, commercial products, news articles, advertisements or any other type of content or physical item. A profiling engine processes the ratings information and generates compact profiles of each subject and object based on the similarities and differences in affinities between the group of subjects and the group of objects. The object profiles can be clustered to create behavioral object categories. Additionally, a modeling module inverts the abstract subject and object profiles into physical attributes, such as predicting demographic or personality traits or subjective or other descriptive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, color, hipness, or trendiness. The system has application in market analysis and segmentation, behavioral targeting, product placement, and online advertising, to name but a few applications.

10-01-2009

20090248489

System and method of market research business analysis - A system and method are provided for performing competitive business and/or financial analyses. The systems accept input concerning a specific business such as the industries and geographical markets in which the business operates. Based on the type of report selected, the system retrieves business and financial data concerning the industries and markets, and then computes a number of relevant statistical factors. Tabular and/or narrative reports are generated based on the computed statistical factors.

10-01-2009

20090248491

System and method for ranking participating venues in a network according to advertisers needs for targeted advertising - The present invention relates to an improved advertising network and system, which relates to interconnecting a plurality of venues through a network, each venue having at least one display panel or display screen for displaying advertisements and marketing materials to a plurality of people at these venues. The venues in the network are ranked in terms of their potential communicative power, according to a defined list of advertising effectiveness criteria, this ranking being reflected as a V-Index, so as to properly assess the potential marketing effectiveness of advertising displayed at each of the venues. Advertisers or users can also provide advertising preferences information (such as demographics preferences) in accessing the network, so as to locate a listing of pertinent venues, and display screens at these venues, where the particular demographic sought is found to be most prevalent. In this manner, advertisers or users can identify, pinpoint and direct a targeted advertising display towards a specific subset of display screens or display panels at selected venues in the network with a view to catering their advertising displays to a specific clientele at these selected venues, based on the advertising preferences information and the ranking each of the venues in the network.

10-01-2009

20090248483

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATING COUPONS ASSOCIATED WITH PRESENTATION INSTRUMENTS - This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for dynamically generating coupons. The method may include associating a coupon value with a manufacturer's offer onto a presentation instrument. The presentation instrument may include a barcode to store terms of the manufacturer's offer and a storage device to store coupon value information. The method may further include distributing the presentation instrument to a customer, scanning the barcode to verify the terms of the offer have been fulfilled, and presenting the presentation instrument to a merchant to access the coupon value information stored on the storage device. Furthermore, the method includes receiving funds in the amount of the coupon value from the manufacturer, and transferring the received funds to the merchant.

10-01-2009

20090248488

Risk assessment forecasting in a supply chain - A supply chain forecasting system enabling integrated risk assessment and forecasting of the impact of events on a supply chain comprising a processor adapted to receive, process and output data for a forecast, and a user interface adapted to enable a user to input parameters to facilitate processing of a forecast, wherein the user interface provides a user the ability to select an event which is likely to have an impact on an aspect of a supply chain and to view a visual representation of different types of impact over time of an event thereby enabling a user readily to understand the nature of the impact of an event on a supply chain and hence to select the most appropriate type of impact over time for an event.

10-01-2009

20090265213

RELEVANT CONTENT TO ENHANCE A STREAMING MEDIA EXPERIENCE - A method, system and apparatus of relevant content to enhance a streaming media experience are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a media content from a content database having content of a plurality of artists and media labels based on a request of a user of a social community environment, automatically selecting a relevant content related to the media content from at least one of a user generated content library and a professional content library based on match between a meta-data associated with the media content and the relevant content, streaming the media content from a central server associated with the central content database to the user without requiring consideration of the user to access the media content, and displaying the relevant content to the user when the media content is being streamed.

10-22-2009

20090248495

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMBINING AND OPTIMIZING BUSINESS STRATEGIES - A system and method is disclosed for tracking subject behavior and making object recommendations to drive the subject to a desired outcome. The system consists of several components: a data collection module that captures subject behavior and provides behavioral context for the recommendations; a profiling module that extracts characteristics of subjects and objects from the behavior data; and a recommendation module, which uses the profiles and the behavior context to generate personalized content, including product recommendations, content recommendations, and advertisements. The recommendation module consists of several sub-modules: a behavioral recommendation module, which matches profiles or uses other unconstrained methods for matching objects to subjects; a business rule module, which filters and modifies recommendations by applying application-specific business logic to defined attributes of the objects; and a promotion engine, which modifies the scores from the recommendation module to bias the recommendations towards certain objects based on additional business goals, such as exposing new objects, selling out old products, or satisfying promotional business agreements with partners. The system continuously samples and assesses the performance of a variety of candidate recommendation strategies and optimizes the selection of the rules and profiling methods to maximize or minimize the value of some objective function that characterizes the system. The system has application to Internet retailing, behavioral targeting, recommendation systems, personalization, business rules, and business optimization.

10-01-2009

20090248492

INTERNET LEAD MANAGER AND OPTIMIZER - A method of customer sales management over a computer network includes receiving customer sales management cadence data and communication tool data. The method includes receiving a sales lead identifier based on one or more tracked activities occurring over a computer network which identifies a priority associated with a sales lead. The sales lead identifier is associated with customer sales management cadence data for generating a schedule. A number of communication tools are generated for managing the sales lead through one or more communication channels. A series of communications are automatically outputted according to the schedule for facilitating customer generation and retention. The method is operated over a computer implemented system for customer sales management having at least one server communicating with at least one client terminal over a computer network. Furthermore, a computer program product has computer readable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing the method.

10-01-2009

20090248487

Managing Consistent Interfaces for Service Part Business Objects Across Heterogeneous Systems - A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a service part demand forecast, a service part demand history, a service part inventory replenishment rule, a service part order history, and/or a service part supply plan business object.

10-01-2009

20090254415

Method and System for Comparing Effects of Audio-Visual Ads on Internet Searches - A method and system are provided for comparing an effect of an audio-visual ad on Internet searches. In one example, the method includes receiving a keyword search related to the audio-visual ad and storing the keyword search in a keyword search database, extracting ad related keywords from digitized text of the audio-visual ad and storing the ad related keywords in an ad keyword database, comparing the ad keyword database to the keyword search database, wherein the comparing includes determining an ad effectiveness rank of the audio-visual ad, and storing the ad effectiveness rank of the audio-visual ad in an ad effectiveness database.

10-08-2009

20090254409

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RATING AND PRICING ADVERTISING - In accordance with techniques disclosed herein, a system and method to set prices for advertising are disclosed. Individuals rate the unit of content by expressing experiences with the content numerically. Purchases of the advertising space alter the pricing of the advertising space to reflect demand for the advertising space. The price may be raised to reflect the current price of the advertising space. A number of views of the unit of content affect the price of the advertising space displaying the unit of content. Where content is not used for a period of time, the non-use may decrease the price of the advertising space.

10-08-2009

20090254420

Maximizing Advertising Performance - Multiple filtering criteria derived from consumer surveys can be used to adjust an advertising schedule to achieve improved performance. Historical performance data related to performance factors, such as gross rating points, can be filtered using the multiple filtering criteria. The filtered data can then be used as the basis for predicting future performance of an advertisement or advertising campaign. The historical data can be updated as new performance data becomes available, and the predicted future performance updated. An advertising schedule can be adjusted to maintain performance factors within designated upper and lower limits.

10-08-2009

20090254413

Portfolio Modeling and Campaign Optimization - In an embodiment of the invention, historical data related to multiple members of a customer loyalty program is gathered. A set of loyalty behavior models is developed for an individual member of the loyalty program is developed based on the historical data. For each campaign in a plurality of marketing campaigns, at least one combination of offers is inserted into each loyalty behavior model to output a plurality of net profit scores for the individual member, wherein each combination of offers outputs a separate net profit score. For each campaign in the plurality of campaigns, a combination of offers having the highest net profit score for the campaign is selected. The campaign having the highest net profit score of the plurality of campaigns is selected, and marketing materials for the selected campaign and combination of offers is transmitted to the individual member.

10-08-2009

20090254421

Method of Matching Potential Clients to Legal Service Providers - A method of matching potential customers to attorneys utilizes a computerized system that functions over the Internet. Records corresponding to the attorneys and categories in which the attorneys practice are stored in a database. A series of questions regarding a legal claim are presented to the potential customer via a web browser. The potential customer answers a series of “yes” or “no” questions to determine if they may have a valid legal claim. If it does appear they have a valid claim, the potential customer is assigned one or more categories. The customer is then presented an advertisement for one or more attorneys that practice in the category that matches the assigned category for the customer.

10-08-2009

20090254416

Method and system for presenting advertisements targeted at passersby - A system and method which may allow advertisers to target advertisements on passersby and use advertising costs more effectively. An information acquiring device in or close to an electronic display device may receive identity information of a passerby from his/her wireless communication device, such as a telecommunication device. The identity information may include the passerby's phone number or name, the wireless telecommunication device's IP address, or cookie files. The information acquiring device may use the received identity information to obtain detailed information about the passerby which may indicate what the passerby might be interested in. The detailed information may include browsing history information or demographic information. The detailed information may then be forwarded to an advertisement server which may select an advertisement targeted at the passerby according to the detailed information, and have the selected advertisement shown on the electronic display device.

10-08-2009

20090254412

Methods and systems using targeted advertising - Users may provide profile data for determining selected users receiving an offer for a promotion. The selected users may accept or decline the offer. If accepted, value for the offer may be stored on a financial platform for redemption with a party desiring to develop the promotional campaign. Results of the targeted advertising may be monitored, return on investment may be tracked and statistical, predictive and behavioral feedback may be provided to the party desiring to develop the promotional campaign. Future promotions may be adapted based upon the analysis and feedback of users. Promotions may be directly associated with a financial platform, instrument, service or network so that the offer may be automatically redeemed. Profile data may be updated based upon account activity. Promotions may be redeemed via a financial network through point of sale purchases, online purchases, and/or purchases transactions or confirmations utilizing telecommunications platforms.

10-08-2009

20090254419

INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND SERVER - An information display system includes plural display devices and a server. The plural display devices are arranged in a selling floor space. The display devices include measuring units. The measuring units measure environment characteristics and generate environment information based on results of the measurement. The display devices transmit the generated environment information to the server. The server generates environment distribution information of the selling floor space from the received environment information and position information of the respective display devices. The server distributes the environment distribution information to the respective display devices. The display devices display commodity information and the delivered environment distribution information together.

10-08-2009

20090254418

Methods for marketing corporate brands - Business methods are provided for marketing and increasing sales of corporate products or brands by collecting information about one or more animal welfare organizations, collecting information from one or more consumers about animal welfare, and processing the animal welfare organization information and the consumer information to design a marketing program executable by the corporation that enables the consumer to interact with the animal welfare organization.

10-08-2009

20090248498

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTRACTING, SURVEYING, AND MARKETING TO CONSUMERS - One method of the present invention includes displaying an interactive map to a consumer and recording interactions with the consumer, recording the interactions, analyzing the recordings, and acting on the analysis. The interactive map is provided at a tourist attraction or other location, and includes maps, images, cameras, and other information about the area surrounding the attraction, as well as information about other attractions, that is useful and/or interesting to a consumer. The interactive media include remote-controlled cameras, touch screen monitors, joysticks, and various other controls. Recording the interactions of the consumers includes recording touches, page views, clicks, session lengths, itineraries selected, and other interactions. Analyzing includes analyzing to find consumer preferences among locations presented. Acting on the results of the analyses includes contacting and forming networks with entities in the area surrounding the tourist hub or remote locations, including contacting and forming networks with other tourist hubs.

10-01-2009

20090307053

Apparatus, system and method for a brand affinity engine using positive and negative mentions - An apparatus, system and method of implementing a computerized brand affinity engine. The apparatus, system and method include at least a plurality of computerized access points having accessible thereto a plurality of sites mentioning at least one sponsor, a categorized, hierarchical database of keywords, wherein at least the keywords falling in at least one category of the hierarchy correspond to a sponsor category of the at least one sponsor, and a tracker, wherein the tracker tracks positive ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites and negative ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites, in accordance with positive and negative keywords of the categorized, hierarchical database in the sponsor category, and wherein the tracker issues an rating with regard to the at least one sponsor in accordance with the positive ones and the negative ones of the mentions. An assessment of optimal sponsors for particular markets and/or in particular geographies that additionally increases sponsorship opportunities in particular markets and/or in particular geographies is thereby provided.

12-10-2009

20090276288

Artificial intelligence platform - The present invention provides a new and unique platform for authoring and deploying interactive characters which are powered by artificial intelligence. The platform permits the creation of a virtual world populated by multiple characters and objects, interacting with one another so as to create a life-like virtual world and interacting with a user so as to provide a more interesting and powerful experience for the user. This system can be used for entertainment purposes, for commercial purposes, for educational purposes, etc.

11-05-2009

20090271244

SITUATION-AWARE AD-HOC SOCIAL INTERACTION - In one embodiment, a method for social networking is provided. A social profile is automatically built for a first user by monitoring the usage of an electronic device operated by the first user. A social network appropriate for the first user is determined by examining the first user's social profile. The appropriate social network is provided to the first user to join if the appropriate social network is available for the first user to join.

10-29-2009

20090292587

CROSS-MEDIA INTERACTIVITY METRICS - Processes and systems for use in media and market research are provided. In certain embodiments, media usage activities relating to interactivity between two or more media are measured and correlated to produce a metric for rating the interactivity.

11-26-2009

20090307054

Consumer and Shopper Analysis System - Systems and methods are provided for analyzing data sets representing consumer and shopper behavior. A data processing system for analyzing sales of a company's consumer packaged goods includes an interface for receiving master and shipment data from sources internal to a company and sources external to the company. Master data and shipment data are stored on a database. A merge and aggregation component operates on shipment and consumption data to create a unique repository of shopper and consumer data. A transcoding and integration component operates on external and internal master data to create a unified master data repository. A set of analytics and reports use unified master data and shipment/consumption data to support Consumer and Shopper Analysis. A sub set of secondary analysis can be performed, capitalizing the Master Data unification and sell-in and sell-out data integration. Consumer and Shopper analysis are performed for clusters of buyers and key performance indicators (KPIs) are calculated for individual customer or groups of customers.

12-10-2009

20090307056

COLLECTING AND SCORING ONLINE REFERENCES - One example embodiment includes a method for indexing online references of an entity. The method includes identifying one or more channels of the Internet to be searched for references to an entity and identifying one or more signals to be evaluated within each of the one or more channels. The method also includes crawling the Internet for online references to the entity, wherein crawling the Internet comprises searching the one or more channels of the Internet for references to the entity and evaluating the one or more signals. The method further includes constructing a reverse index of the references, wherein the reverse index is based on each channel in which a reference is found and the one or more signals evaluated for the reference.

12-10-2009

20090307061

Measuring Exposure To Media - Exposure to media content across one or more media delivery mechanisms is measured. The delivery mechanisms can include, for example, television and radio, as well as Internet delivery of web pages or other content viewed on a computer, mobile device, or other electronic device using a browser or other application. Media can include web-based content and/or audio content originating from a network source and/or from other content sources. Reference signatures are generated for media content items of interest. Monitoring devices and/or software monitor user exposure to media items, and intercepted signatures are generated. In some embodiments, user exposure across multiple delivery mechanisms is monitored. Reports can be generated based on comparison of the intercepted signatures with the reference signatures; such reports may include analysis of media exposure across multiple delivery mechanisms. Content items can be selected for presentation to a user based on media exposure history.

12-10-2009

20090307055

Assessing Demand for Products and Services - A technique for assessing the viability of several concepts for new/different products, services, or bundles of products and/or services, using discrete choice modeling, or a combination of discrete choice modeling and monadic concept testing. The core of the invention involves one or more of the following: a methodological technique for combining monadic and discrete choice data, a method for gathering monadic and discrete choice data at the same time during a single fielding, a method for gathering specific diagnostic information, a method for using discrete choice modeling to generate specific diagnostic information, a unique web-enabled interface that helps individuals make quick and accurate choices by displaying concepts at low and high resolution at the same time, a unique web-enabled interface that permits gathering choice data on multiple dimensions for each set of concepts shown, methodological innovations permitting hierarchical and/or Bayesian analysis of discrete choice data using data for multiple dimensions within the same model, and methods and apparatus for storing, organizing, and reporting input and output from this system.

12-10-2009

20090307047

System to Defer and Refer Advertisements Presented in Conjunction with Media Device Control Interfaces - A targeted advertising method and system tracks user interaction with and responses to a displayed advertisement. The advertisement is displayed in the user viewing control interface of a media device system (e.g. delivering cable television, satellite television, global computer network/online media). Based on recorded user responses, the invention system generates viewer lists enabling targeted advertising. The viewer lists include lists of users that have viewed the advertisement, lists of users that have requested more information and/or lists of peer recommended users.

12-10-2009

20090307060

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING A LOYALTY PROFILE FOR A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CARDHOLDER - A computer-based method and system for determining a loyalty profile for a cardholder is provided. The cardholder having an account associated with a payment card. The payment card is issued by an issuer to the cardholder. The method is performed using a computer coupled to a database. The method includes electronically receiving transaction information of the cardholder at the computer wherein the transaction information includes data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder and associated with the cardholder account, electronically storing the transaction information within the database, and transforming the transaction information at the computer to generate the loyalty profile for the cardholder wherein the loyalty profile represents a pattern of usage of the payment card and the associated account by the cardholder.

12-10-2009

20090307058

END USER INTERFACE CUSTOMIZATION AND END USER BEHAVIORAL METRICS COLLECTION AND PROCESSING - A method and a system for customizing an end user interface for a computer application is provided. The method includes developing a customized user interface for the computer application, wherein the customized user interface includes features that provide content associated with a brand, and providing updated content to the customized user interface. The system includes a host server operable to download and update the customized end user interface.

12-10-2009

20090259523

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING PRICING POWER AND RISK SCORES - The present invention relates to a power and risk score calibrator which includes segment pricing power and risk reconcilers, a segment cartographer, segment power and risk aggregators, pricing power and risk value comparers, and pricing power and risk value calibrators. The reconcilers receive quantitative power and risk scores for each quantitative segment, and receive qualitative power and risk scores for each qualitative segment. The qualitative segment and the qualitative power and risk scores are defined by a user. The cartographer generates consolidated segments. The aggregators may then generate consolidated power and risk scores for each of the consolidated segments, respectively. The comparers then reconcile gaps between the qualitative power and risk scores and the consolidated power and risk scores. From these reconciliations adjustment factors are generated, which are applied by pricing power and risk value calibrators. The calibrators may also perform a drill down to explain the gap between the qualitative scores and the consolidated scores.

10-15-2009

20090259525

Internet Probability Sampling - The Internet Probability Sample is a method for obtaining a statistically robust probability sample of a target population of substantial interest (including, but not limited to Internet Users in the United States) by employing an Internet advertising system. The Internet Probability Sample (IPS) dramatically changes the nature of survey research because unbiased estimates with measurable sampling variance are produced in significantly less time and at a greatly reduced cost over Area Probability Sample and Random Digit Dial methods. The use of this invention benefits all parties that utilize survey information, including governments, academics, non-profit organizations, businesses, and the public at large.

10-15-2009

20090259519

Advertisements Targeted to Social Groups that Establish Program Popularity - Advertisements targeted to social groups that establish program popularity is described. In embodiment(s), display durations can be enumerated for each program that is rendered for viewing at media devices associated with each member of a social group. A popularity factor for each of the programs can be established based on enumerated display durations of each of the programs, and popular programs can be determined for the members of the social group based on the popularity factors. Advertisements can then be targeted to the members of the social group based on the popular programs.

10-15-2009

20090259517

Commission-based and arbitrage-based targeting - A method for determining an ad to display in an ad unit is disclosed. A specification of a targeting vendor ad is received from a targeting vendor, wherein the specification includes a targeting vendor commission. A targeting vendor ad value is determined based at least in part on the targeting vendor commission. The ad to display in the ad unit is determined, based on a comparison of the targeting vendor ad with other ads, wherein the comparison depends at least in part on the targeting vendor ad value.

10-15-2009

20090259524

USER-ASSISTED ONLINE TRANSACTIONS - One feature provides an online system that assists users (or sponsors) in selecting and purchasing goods and/or services for themselves and/or others (or recipients). A sponsor may provide the funds for the purchase but delegate the purchase decision to an assistant user or group of assistant users (also referred to as a “voting group”) within an online network community or social group. The voting group may have the autonomy as to the specific item (good and/or service) to buy and make purchase decisions on behalf of the sponsor. The sponsor may set limits on the amount to spend for any particular gift or a particular period of time within which to purchase any particular gift. This online system removes the specific buying decision (e.g., which particular item to buy, researching particular items, or shopping for an item) from the sponsor, thereby saving the sponsor time.

10-15-2009

20090259520

SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING TRADE PROMOTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPENDING IN FRAGMENTED MARKETS - A system for optimizing incentive-based spending parameters associated with goods provided by a manufacturer in fragmented markets includes a data collection component configured to aggregate data, and an analysis module, which applies regression analysis based on key segmentation variables. A segmentation module separates the aggregated data into final segments based on identified key segmentation variables. The analysis module applies regression analysis to each final segment to identify incentive-based spending parameters and generates response curves. A report generator provides a graphical output of the respective response curves.

10-15-2009

20090254411

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DECISION SUPPORT FOR SERVICE TRANSITION MANAGEMENT - A system and method for determining and managing risk impact of service downtime includes defining a process structure of one or more process types, services the process structure employs and a distribution of the services' time durations. Process usage data is collected for each type of process, and risk is estimated based on penalties and expected deadlines for each process. For a service change and outage of a given length of time, an optimal change window is determined with respect to a minimized impact on the process based on the estimated risk.

10-08-2009

20090276284

PEER TO PEER NETWORK PERSONAL ASSISTANT - Methods and computer storage media for communicating an electronic gift suggestion for a first user to a second user are provided. Accessing an online social network profile for a first user created by the first user in an online social network. Determining one or more gift suggestions for the first user and displaying the one or more gift suggestions in the online social network account of a second user. In some embodiment, the gift suggestions for the first user may be based on the social profile of the first user, based on the social profile of the first user utilizing an electronic gift wish list, or based sales data of purchasers having similar personal information and purchasing history as personal information accessed from the first user's social profile.

METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING A LOYALTY ENGINE FOR AUTOMATED CAUSE MANAGEMENT - A method, system and computer program for providing a loyalty engine for automated cause marketing. The method includes a charity linking merchants and sponsors to the loyalty system. Members register with the loyalty engine through the loyalty system which is accessible via the Internet. Once the merchants and the sponsors are linked and the members are registered, by operation of the loyalty engine, the merchants can create a customized loyalty program defined by a plurality of merchant defined rules for administering their loyalty program. The merchant defined rules instruct the loyalty engine as to the level of donations in connection with one or more transactions by a member that is associated to the loyalty program. The loyalty system includes a reporting facility to allow the merchant to track transactions with members in a number of ways. A system is also provided that consists of a server computer including the loyalty engine and the charity utility. The charity utility provides the functions of the method and is linked to a server computer that is connected to the Internet. The computer program of the invention is a web application that enables the members, sponsors, merchants, and the charity to access the functions of the invention via a web browser.

11-12-2009

20090259516

Point-of-sale display system - A computer-implemented method for data display is provided, which includes receiving a request for a product from a customer in a first line at a retail location having multiple adjacent customer lines. An advertisement is selected responsively to the requested product, and is displayed on a customer-facing electronic display positioned at a second line, which is in proximity to the first line. Other embodiments are also described.

10-15-2009

20090265219

Local content management & distribution system - A method and system for the publishing, management and distribution of local content via a plurality of Internet media types. The method and system provides for single entry of local content and automated mass distribution via the Internet. A key component of the method and system is the categorizing and organizing of local content at the point of publishing by the system and/or author of the local content which allows for delivery and/or placement of the local content to a more relevant reader across the plurality of Internet media types.

10-22-2009

20090265216

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUSTOMER SPECIFIC BASED FOOD PREPARATION PREDICTION - A food preparation predicting system and method in one embodiment includes a detector for obtaining customer information, a memory including program instructions for obtaining customer information from the detector, associating the customer information with stored customer specific preference information, generating a pseudo-order based upon the associated preference information, generating food preparation information based upon the pseudo-order, and displaying the food preparation information, and a processor operably connected to the camera and the memory for executing the program instructions.

10-22-2009

20090265215

Methods and apparatus to monitor audience exposure to media using duration-based data - Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to monitor audience exposure to media using duration-based data are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves determining a duration of exposure to an information medium based on transaction information associated with access to a public establishment, determining a first duration value based on the duration of exposure, and determining a second duration value indicative of a duration for which the information medium is accessible within the public establishment. The example method also involves determining an exposure performance value based on the first and second duration values indicative of an exposure performance of the information medium.

10-22-2009

20090254414

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING ADVERTISEMENT QUALITY OF SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENTS - Various embodiments of systems and methods for auctioning sponsored ads are provided. The auctioning systems and methods take hidden costs of sponsored ads into account. A user's future propensity to click on ads is influenced by his/her experience with past clicks. An ad with disappointing quality of landing page imposes a negative externality on the search engine and the future stream of revenue from a user is reduced. The externality may also be positive. A good experience with an ad may train users to pay more attention to other ads. The externality of an advertisement (ad) can be considered as a “hidden cost.” Including hidden costs of sponsored ads in the auctioning process promote (or encourage) ads with good quality and discourage (or penalize) ads with poor quality. By doing so, advertisers are likely to improve the quality of ads being placed in the bidding pool, which will result in improvement in the overall quality of sponsored ads. Users benefit from the higher quality ads. The advertisers also benefit from the higher quality ads by paying less or no hidden costs for ads and by getting more satisfied customers. The search engine (site) can also benefit from having higher quality sponsored ads to gain more ad revenue.

10-08-2009

20090248493

Systems for rewarding influences - The present disclosure relates generally to systems for rewarding influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, a system is configured to assess an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party, and may also be configured to facilitate a reward to one or more influencers based on one or more assessed influences

10-01-2009

20090327046

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERACTING WITH A USER OVER A NETWORK - One embodiment of the invention provides a method for interacting with a user over a network. The method includes receiving a request from a user machine for a content page at a publisher web-site. The user machine is provided with an interstitial page including one or more fields for collecting information about the user and two or more user response options for selection by the user, including at least a positive response and a negative response. The selected user response to the interstitial page is received and recorded, along with any information collected about the user. The recorded information may be used in a future determination of an interstitial page to provide to the user machine.

12-31-2009

20090327045

GENERATING RETAIL SALES REPORT - A computer-implemented automated method of generating a report of sales growth estimate from point of sale transaction settlement database includes selecting a subset of the point of sale transaction data that represents sales transactions for accounts in the transaction settlement database that are active during two consecutive reporting periods from the point of sale transaction settlement database. The selected subset of the point of sale transaction data is then analyzed based on a sorting category resulting in an estimate of sales growth rate over the reporting period.

12-31-2009

20100138274

METHOD FOR DETERMINING DAILY WEIGHTING FACTORS FOR USE IN FORECASTING DAILY PRODUCT SALES - A product demand forecasting methodology is presented that applies daily weight values to a weekly forecast to determine daily forecasts for a product or service. The method determines daily weight values for use in forecasting current product sales by blending daily weight values calculated from historical demand data for both recent weeks and year-prior weeks. Recent weeks are used to account for recent correlations and alternation effects, and year-prior weeks are used to account for seasonality effects. The method automatically calculates a measure of significance for the daily weights calculated from the recent weeks and year-prior weeks. The significance of each week is applied as a weighting factor during the blending of recent weeks and year-prior daily weight values.

06-03-2010

20100138273

REPEATABILITY INDEX TO ENHANCE SEASONAL PRODUCT FORECASTING - A repeatability score is described for determining the quality and reliability of product sales data for generating seasonal demand forecasts. The repeatability scores are calculated from seasonal sales data stored in a data warehouse. Products are sorted based on their reliability scores such that those products that are highly seasonal and have a reliable year-to-year demand pattern are used to form initial or unique demand models. Products that are determined to be less reliable based on their repeatability score are added to the unique demand models through an iterative matching process or left out of the unique demand models.

06-03-2010

20100138283

AUDIENCE RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IPTV SERVICE - An audience research data collecting method and system for collecting audience research data from devices connected to an IP service. An audience research data reporting method of a device includes receiving an audience research data collection management object for collecting audience research data from a device management server, configuring a reporting condition of the audience research data collection management object based on parameters received from the device management server and collecting and reporting the audience research data to the device management server according to the reporting condition.

06-03-2010

20100138282

MINING INTERACTIONS TO MANAGE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT A CUSTOMER SERVICE LIFECYCLE - A customer experience is improved through data mining and text mining technologies and that derive insights about a customer by analyzing interactions between the customer and a customer service agent. One or more numerical measurements of customer satisfaction are derived and recommended actions are provided to an agent to enhance the customer experience throughout a customer service lifecycle.

BRAND SUSTAINABILITY INDEX - A system and method for determining a composite rating for sustainability for a brand are provided. The method comprises selecting sustainability factors applicable to the brand. For each applicable sustainability factor, selecting an activity that is an attribute of the brand and determining a score for each selected activity. The method then calculates a composite rating for the brand based on the score for each selected activity. The method then displays the composite rating for the brand and the score for each selected activity in a graphic format.

06-03-2010

20100138277

PRODUCT MIGRATION ANALYSIS USING DATA MINING - A method and system for mining a database for product migration analysis includes querying product usage data for a legacy product and a new product from the database as time series data. The product usage data is representative for a large number of consumers of the legacy and new products. A mathematical model may be used to determine a relationship between the two time series data. Product migration values and other features related to product migration, such as a transition period of product usage, may be estimated, determined or predicted.

06-03-2010

20100138280

Electronic inventory movement and control device - Disclosed is a method and apparatus to electronically tabulate items marked with a bar code. The system may optionally operate to manage, control and tabulate inventory, produce vendor-correct purchase orders, manage multiple locations, multiple buildings, multiple clients and multiple stores to facilitate efficiency for a wholesaler or retailer or alternatively for a distributor, broker or sales agent. The system may alternatively be used to manage inventory for a manufacturing environment or for tracking evidence or items in a chain of custody environment useful for governmental and scientific functions.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN FOR MAKE-TO-SPECIFICATION APPLICATION SOFTWARE - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include The process components include an RFQ Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract Processing process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Customer Requirement Processing process component.

Techniques for facilitating on-line contextual analysis and advertising - Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating on-line contextual analysis and/or advertising operations implemented in a computer network. According to some embodiments, various aspects may be used for enabling advertisers to provide contextual advertising promotions to end-users based upon real-time analysis of web page content which may be served to an end-user's computer system. In at least one embodiment, the information obtained from the real-time analysis may be used to select, in real-time, contextually relevant information, advertisements, and/or other content which may then be displayed to the end-user, for example, via real-time insertion of textual markup objects and/or dynamic content. According to specific embodiments, various operations may be performed for adapting or modifying a conventional context-based advertising systems to improve various features such as, for example, ad relevance estimation, click-through rate estimation, advertisement selection and layout, balancing exploration and exploitation, etc.

06-03-2010

20090319343

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE DATA - Described herein is a system and method for providing entity investment guidance via a communication network. The system includes a server, at least one entity-issued disclosure received by the server via the communication network and a storage accessible by the server. The storage includes at least one forecast data extracted from the at least one entity disclosure, said forecast data indicative of a projection of an entity performance parameter, and a context file for each of the forecast data, the context file including at least a portion of the entity disclosure associated with the forecast data. Also included in the system is a user interface in communication with the server, wherein the server generates an investment guidance display of the forecast data and the context file and transmits the display to the user interface via the communication network.

12-24-2009

20090319341

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OBTAINING VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT STATISTICS - A telematics control unit in a vehicle couples to a vehicle communication network bus and monitors signals on the bus that correspond to various parameters related to entertainment devices in the vehicle, such as, for examples, a radio, a telephone, and a video player. During a predetermined period, the TCU monitors the entertainment device signals and stores information represented by the signals to a memory. The TCU transmits the entertainment device signal information from the memory to a telematics operations center server operated by a telematics services provider. The TOC is configured to analyze the status of the entertainment signal information to determine various entertainment device settings in the vehicle and how they correlate with given entertainment programming, based on programs being broadcast when the TCU monitors the signal, or programs an occupant of the vehicle plays from storage media. Advertisers may obtain the information analysis and tailor advertising accordingly.

12-24-2009

20090319340

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING PERSONAL BEHAVIOR - The invention provides a personal behavior analysis apparatus capable of statistically analyzing a personal behavior. To analyze personal behaviors, a population data file is provided that stores flow-line data for individual persons as a population acquired by tracking the behaviors of persons within a monitored area. After input of a condition for narrowing down the flow-line data as analysis objects is accepted via a condition input section, the population data file is searched based on the condition and flow-line data meeting the condition is acquired. The acquired flow-line data is stored in a subpopulation data file as a subpopulation. A control section of the apparatus calculates statistics values related to personal behavior analysis using the flow-line data stored in the subpopulation data file and displays them on a display section.

12-24-2009

20090319338

Method and system for virtual mentoring - A virtual mentoring system for assessing traits and improvement needs of a user is disclosed. The virtual mentoring system generates a personalized plan for the user that includes recommendations for reducing one or more inhibitors inversely correlated with improvement areas.

DEMAND CURVE ANALYSIS METHOD FOR DEMAND PLANNING - The present disclosure describes novel methods for estimating the predictability of demand for one or more products. The data may be organized into one or more hierarchies and may contain one or more attributes.

04-08-2010

20100088155

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCURING BIDS AND MANAGING ASSETS AND ASSET SUPPORT CONTRACTS - A method and system are provided for managing assets and asset support contracts for assets of a given entity. The method includes: (a) receiving information including an identification of each of a plurality of assets of the entity and one or more asset support contracts associated with each of the plurality of assets, the information including expiration dates for the asset support contracts; (b) creating an online repository containing the information, the online repository being remotely accessible by users associated with the entity through an online platform; (c) tracking the assets and associated asset support contracts to identify asset support contracts set to expire within a predetermined period of time; (d) automatically notifying the entity of expiring asset support contracts prior to expiration thereof; (e) procuring bids from one or more sellers of asset support contracts to replace or renew the expiring asset support contracts or to replace or dispose of assets covered by expiring asset support contracts; and (f) providing the bids to the entity.

04-08-2010

20100088154

SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR COMPUTING AND OUTPUTTING A TIMELINE VALUE, INDICATION OF POPULARITY, AND RECOMMENDATION - A computer-implemented method is provided for computing and outputting a timeline value. In use, model data about a product is received. Additionally, thresholds relevant to the model data are received or computed. Further, a timeline value is computed based on comparing the thresholds to the model data, where the timeline value is indicative of a current stage in a lifecycle of the product. Further still, the timeline value is output. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are also implemented. For example, methods are presented for computing and outputting an indication of product buzz and/or popularity. Other methods include using one or more of timeline, popularity, sentiment, value, discount ratings, etc. to compute a recommendation and output the same.

04-08-2010

20100088152

PREDICTING USER RESPONSE TO ADVERTISEMENTS - A system for predicting user responses to advertisements comprises a data collection component, a segmentation component, a modeling component, a rule building component, and an ad scoring component. The data collection component receives data from cookies stored on each client and from other sources. The segmentation component organizes the data according to segments. The modeling component groups users according to segments and compares a user's actions to the models to predicts the user's future responses. The rule building component generates an ad campaign comprised of rules. The model or the rules are compared to a plurality of rules to generate a score. The ad with the highest combination of a score and a bid is displayed on the client.

04-08-2010

20090313092

Method and Apparatus for Collecting and Providing Viewer Feedback to a Broadcast - The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to collect and provide viewer feedback to broadcasts. According to one aspect of the present invention, a rating is generated for a broadcast by a server system. The rating is based at least in part on viewer feedback to the broadcast, and the rating indicates a likelihood of interest in the broadcast for potential subsequent viewers. Access to the rating is then provided so that predications can be made as to whether or not the broadcast will be of interest to potential subsequent viewers. According to another aspect of the present invention, the rating is provided from the server system to an entertainment system, and the broadcast can be selected for viewing at an entertainment system based on the rating generated by the server system. In one embodiment, the viewer feedback is received at the entertainment system in response to a feedback questionnaire.

12-17-2009

20090313090

RESOLVING DEMAND AND SUPPLY IMBALANCES - A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products. Where constrained supply capability exists, the method includes determining alternative end products that are functionally equivalent to those in the constrained supply capability, and executing sales activities for enticing sales of functionally equivalent alternative end products.

12-17-2009

20090313089

System of Acquiring Shopper Insights and Influencing Shopper Purchase Decisions - Systems herein relate to acquiring shopper insights from home product use and influencing shoppers to make additional future purchases of products. Further, the invention relates to electronically communicating with the shopper at the second moment of truth to provide the shopper with one or more influential messages including, but not limited to product information, e-coupons, discounts, surveys, ingredients, ingredient suggestions, recipe suggestions, entertaining, consumer reports, shopping list suggestions, wish list suggestions, and inventory list suggestions.

12-17-2009

20090313088

Patriotic American Shopping Network - Variants of the invention are directed to Internet-based shopping networks which provide information to consumers who desire to purchase locally-produced or locally-manufactured products or services. In one variant, an Internet-based shopping network utilizes a website home page to interface with consumers. The website home page may include consumer-oriented components such as a product search component, a product rank component and/or a product purchase component. The network may include vendor-oriented components such as hyperlinks to predetermined vendors based on products offered by the predetermined vendor and the percentage of sales that is returned by the vendor for recirculation within a local economy.

12-17-2009

20090313087

METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING NET PRESENT VALUE OF A CROSS-SELLING MARKETING CAMPAIGN - The present invention applies a novel iterative algorithm to the problem of multidimensional optimization by supplying a strict, nonlinear mathematical solution to what has traditionally been treated as a linear multidimensional problem. The process consists of randomly selecting a statistically significant sample of a prospect list, calculating the value of the utility function for each pair of an offer and selected prospects, reducing the original linear multidimensional problem to a non-linear problem with a feasible number of dimensions, solving the non-linear problem for the selected sample numerically with the desired tolerance using an iterative algorithm, and using the results to calculate an optimal set of offers in one pass for the full prospect list.

USER RECOMMENDATION METHOD AND RECORDED MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - A method of recommendation to a user is disclosed. In the method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a recommendation system recommends a product to a user of an e-commerce site, which sells the product through the Internet. The method can include: collecting user behavior information of the user; analyzing the collected user behavior information; creating a recommendation tree for predicting a user preference for a certain product based on the analyzing; and recommending the product to the user based on the recommendation tree. The user behavior information is a command signal inputted by the user in the e-commerce site while the user is accessed to the e-commerce site, and the product can be classified into a plurality of items, which represent the product. The method in accordance with the present invention can analyze the user's preferences more quickly and accurately without inconveniencing the user.

12-17-2009

20090313085

INTERACTIVE PRODUCT EVALUATION AND SERVICE WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - An approach that provides interactive product evaluation and service within a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an evaluation indicating component that is configured to permit an owner of a virtual universe product to indicate a desire to have at least one avatar in the virtual universe evaluate the virtual universe product. An evaluation generating component is configured to generate an invitation that requests an evaluation of the virtual universe product. An evaluation collecting component is configured to collect the evaluation of the virtual universe product.

12-17-2009

20090313082

Method and Apparatus for Collecting Information About Targeted Behavior on the Internet - A method and apparatus are provided for collecting information about targeted behavior on the Internet. In one example, the method includes sending an offer to participate in a tracking program to a user computer, receiving an acceptance of the offer to participate from the user computer, sending a software code device to the user computer, receiving targeted behavior information from the software code device located on the user computer, and sending payment for the targeted behavior information to the user computer.

12-17-2009

20090287534

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTEMPORANEOUS PRODUCT INFORMATION AND SALES SUPPORT FOR RETAIL CUSTOMERS - A system and method for providing contemporaneous product information includes identifying a product by collecting information with a user device, and determining a customer location using information collected by the user device. Based upon the product and the customer location, a sales person qualified to respond to customer questions is identified. A link is established between the customer and the sales person to permit live chat between a sales person and the customer.

11-19-2009

20090265212

ADVERTISING IN A STREAMING MEDIA ENVIRONMENT - A method, system and apparatus of advertising in a streaming media environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a media content from a content database having content of a plurality of artists and media labels based on a request of a user of a social community environment, streaming the media content from a central server associated with the central database to the user without requiring consideration of the user to access the media content, and generating an advertisement that is displayed to the user when the media content is streamed to the user. The method may include selecting a good and/or a service being marketed in the advertisement based on an artist, an album, a track, a genre, a type, and/or a tempo of the media content and/or based on interests defined in a user profile associated with the user.

10-22-2009

20090265223

ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL (ETA) SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system on a network provides estimated time of arrival information to a client located on the network. The system is adapted to present to the client pages for eliciting a product inquiry including a product number. The system receives the product inquiry, determines estimated time of arrivals for various destinations for at least one in-transit unit having the product number, and transmits to the client the estimated time of arrivals.

10-22-2009

20090265224

Generation of Automated Reports and Matching Using Online Surveys and Collaborative Filtering - A method and apparatus for providing targeted online compensation reports that accounts for unique individual job characteristics by using dynamic profiles is described. The invention uses a survey engine having a collaborative filtering engine that determines appropriate questions to ask the user during the survey, and may further provide suggested possible answers. A collection of user profiles is used for comparison purposes and to produce additional individualized compensation reports.

10-22-2009

20090265220

INTELLIGENT MULTI-CHANNEL TARGETED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGN MANAGER - The present invention is a system and method to enable advertisement subsidized telecommunications services, which can deliver a campaign comprised of multiple advertisements, each advertisement using a different format (text, audio and video), to user's different terminals (cell phone, soft phone, PDA, PC, etc.) by using different telecommunications channels (text message, phone call, multimedia message, ring tone) simultaneously. The system is comprised of three layers: a campaign manager to manage campaign state, a service logic, which determines the user population and the channel best matching each advertisement's content and format, and a channel manager which emulates a confederation of service applications to simultaneously tap into various telecommunications channels through a Service Delivery Platform (SDP), or by directly attaching to the operator's network.

10-22-2009

20090265218

Method and system for media initialization via data sharing - A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium estimate media performance on advertising space inventory. The method selects at least one media cell that shares one or more common attributes with a target media cell. The method subsequently estimates mean revenue per impression (RPI) of the selected media cell, and then defines an initial estimate of a RPI of the target media cell based on the estimated RPI of the selected cell. The method computes the RPI of the target media cell by combining the initial RPI estimate for the target media cell with performance data associated with the target media cell.

10-22-2009

20090265214

Advertisement in Operating System - Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

10-22-2009

20100082410

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM - Methods, apparatus, and systems to determine a niche market of items or services, the first phase of which identifies a gap between demand and supply for a set of items. Session logs may be evaluated to compare transactions involving a specific item to those of a larger group of items. The resultant information identifies areas of high demand, but with low availability. The niche market information may be provided as direct merchandising items for sellers. In one example, the method generates niche market item web pages in specific categories. Additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

04-01-2010

20100082407

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION - Financial transformation in one aspect establishes a hub and spoke network of models including at least a process model as the hub and at least components model, value driver model, applications model, solutions models as the spoke connected to the process model. A plurality of correlations is inferred among said models using daisy-chain analyses that navigate the hub and spoke network of models, and heat map is generated. Heat map analysis, application shortfall analysis, organization shortfall analysis, solution analysis, and business case analysis are performed.

04-01-2010

20100082406

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL ESTATE REFERRALS - The present invention discloses a system and method for providing agent referrals for real estate transactions. The system and method provides buyers and/or sellers with a real estate agent referral based on the type of real estate involved in the transaction and/or preferences of the buyer/seller. The real estate agent provided through the referral will be the highest performing real estate available with the performance of the real estate agent based on criteria received from the seller/buyer and transaction history of the real estate agent.

04-01-2010

20100082397

PREDICTIVE GEO-TEMPORAL ADVERTISEMENT TARGETING - A method, system, and medium are provided for targeting advertisements to users of mobile devices based on geo-temporal models. Time-stamped location information is collected for a mobile device and a dynamic geo-temporal model is constructed and updated when new data is collected according to a sample design. Using the geo-temporal model, device location and instances of user interaction with the device can be predicted, and advertisements can be provided based on the predicted location. Advertisements can be cached on the mobile device for later presentation, and the sample design can be updated to improve efficiency and accuracy in the modeling system.

04-01-2010

20100082403

ADVOCATE RANK NETWORK & ENGINE - This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing real-time and customized advocacy to consumers over a network. Customizing advocacy is done by selecting one or more advocates most likely to induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service. To select these one or more advocates, an advocate ranking is generated, wherein advocates are ranked by a total advocacy value (an estimation of the likelihood that an advocate will induce a potential customer to engage in a transaction with a product, brand, or service). The total advocacy value is determined by monitoring data regarding advocates, and applying that data to a model. The data can be derived from the interactions of real world entities (RWEs) with the network as well as from information objects (IOs) accessible by the network.

04-01-2010

20100082402

ESTIMATING ON-LINE ADVERTISING INVENTORY VALUE BASED ON CONTRACT DELIVERY INFORMATION - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for pricing on-line advertisement inventory. In one embodiment, a method for pricing on-line advertisement inventory includes (i) providing a model for determining a value of an individual impression as a function of its user target attributes based on historical bookings for a plurality of impressions, wherein each impression corresponds to a plurality of user target attributes for which an on-line advertisement can be displayed, (ii) receiving a request for a price of a new product, and (iii) determining the price of the new product based on the average of individual impression values that are determined by using the model on a plurality of user target attributes of a plurality of individual impressions that serve the new product.

04-01-2010

20100082399

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISEMENTS IN A NETWORK-BASED ENVIRONMENT - The present invention is directed to a system and method for distributing advertisements in a network-based advertisement campaign. The method and system includes determining a number of advertisement placements for a contract within a contract time interval where the advertisement placements may be presented to users having defined characteristics. The method and system includes reviewing forecasting information regarding user traffic, including forecasting information for predicting a volume of users having the defined characteristics. The method and system includes, in response to the forecasting information, procuring advertisement placements consistent with the contract during the contract time interval and distributing the advertisements in a network-based output.

04-01-2010

20100082398

SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT DATA - A system is described for providing contextually relevant data. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The processor may receive a query associated with a user. The processor may determine a spatial context, a temporal context, a social context and a topical context of the query. The spatial context may represent the location of the user, and the temporal context may represent a time of the query. The topical context may represent an item of interest to the user, and the social context may represent an item of interest to other users associated with the user. The processor may identify a plurality of search results for the query searched for. Each search result may be associated with one or more of the spatial context, the temporal context, the social context and the topical context. The processor may provide the identified search results to the user.

System & method for facilitating projected transactions - The present invention provides various capabilities of facilitating projected transactions by managing accounts, projections, and incentives. Features of the various embodiments of the present invention include multiple access options, comprising web mediated interactions and provisionings of compilations of projections and incentives in conjunction with transaction venues, among others. Other features include identifying of incentives related to account associated projections, appraising and comptrolling of incentive benefits, and assessing of projections, incentives, and their various realization statuses. Provisionings of projections and/or incentives will be often venue focused, with substantial degrees of projection and/or incentive compilation customization, modification, and/or provisionings available when accessing an interaction facility via multiple modes.

12-02-2010

20100306033

ELECTRICAL POWER METERING AND BILLING NETWORK - A method and system for facilitating the purchase of electricity between static provider (e.g, an Outlet Owner (OO)) and dynamic/mobile customer (e.g., a Plug Holder (PH)). The system can create open-market, real-time rate and cost determinations based on the conditions of a Charging Instance (CI) and other electricity transfers. In an embodiment, the invention can provide a Transaction Center configured to receive Charging Instance information over communications links. The Transaction Center can include computers and storage devices configured to process Charging Instance data and reconcile accounts of Plug Holders and Outlet Owners. The Transaction Center can be configured to determine the cost of electricity for a particular outlet and a particular plug. Promotional and market data can be used to calculate the cost. Clusters of outlets and groups of Plug Holders can be established. The Transaction Center can perform heuristic analysis of the data associated with a collection of Charging Instances. Users can receive predictive data for their vehicle configuration and current state based on accumulated data. The Transaction Center can communicate with Enabling Devices, Outlets, Connected Devices, and Vehicles.

12-02-2010

20100306032

Systems and Methods to Summarize Transaction Data - Systems and methods to summarize transaction data via cluster analysis and factor analysis. In one aspect, a method includes identifying at least one set of clusters based on a cluster analysis of transaction records to group entities, identifying a plurality of factors based on a factor analysis of the transaction records to reduce correlations in spending variables, classifying an entity according to the at least one set of clusters, and computing values of the factors based on the transaction records of the entity.

12-02-2010

20100131336

System and method for searching media assets - A search engine, system and method for locating and rating a plurality of electronic mentions of respective ones of a plurality of brands. The engine, system and method includes a web crawl engine that seeks mentions of ones of a plurality of keywords in proximity to ones of the electronic mentions of the respective ones of the plurality of brands, a content reviewer that electronically presents to a manual reviewer the mentions of ones of a plurality of keywords in proximity to ones of the electronic mentions of the respective ones of the plurality of brands, a scoring input for receiving a first of the ratings from the manual reviewer of the mentions of ones of a plurality of keywords in proximity to ones of the electronic mentions of the respective ones of the plurality of brands, at least one electronic rating input for receiving second ones of the ratings of the mentions of ones of a plurality of keywords in proximity to ones of the electronic mentions of the respective ones of the plurality of brands, and a correlator that normalizes the rating by comparing the first of the ratings to the second ones of the ratings, and that correlates ones of the plurality of brands to a desired purchaser profile in accordance with the normalized rating.

05-27-2010

20100131337

System and method for localized valuations of media assets - An engine, system and method for selecting at least one endorser for use in one or more advertisements. The engine, system and method may include a talent library including a plurality of electronic media assets delineated by respective ones of the at least one endorser, a mention tracker that electronically tracks mentions of the media assets, and that assigns at least one metric to each of the mentions, and a graphical user display that displays the metrics correspondent to a selected one of the at least one endorser based on ones selected from a plurality of geographies, wherein the selected ones of the geographies are a situs of ones of the mentions.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SMART METER PROGRAM DEPLOYMENT - A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for modeling a plan for deployment of smart meters in a plurality of locations that are attached to a grid operated by an energy provider that supplies energy to said locations, wherein the smart meters are used to measure the energy supplied by the energy provider to said locations. The method comprises the steps of using a market diffusion model to create a time-varying user adoption profile, including estimating the time lagged benefits realized from deployment of the smart meters; and estimating a response in the demand for said energy due to adoption of the smart meters. A program is used to capture the time-lagged benefits and a given set of constrains for a chosen planning time horizon to develop a meter deployment plan across the various locations and over that planning horizon.

05-27-2010

20100131332

TELEPHONE NUMBER BASED SYSTEM TO DELIVER COUPONS TO MOBILE DEVICES - Disclosed is a system to implement a method to deliver a coupon to a mobile device. A network entity may receive a telephone number from a mobile device operated by a caller. The network entity may obtaining identifying information about a target service provider as a function of the dialed telephone number. Using the identifying information about the target service provider, the network entity may obtain a coupon. The network entity then may send the coupon to the mobile device.

05-27-2010

20100131330

LINKING ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING DATA TO BUSINESS CAPABILITIES - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities. Embodiments provide a linkage between schematized ERP data (e.g., financial data) and schematized business capabilities. The linkage provides the ability to report in a visual way that permits the linkage of such things as business value, performance, maturity, interconnectedness, process standardization, compliance, etc. As such, businesses capabilities can be linked to specific spend amounts in ERP data.

05-27-2010

20100114661

Implementing a Promotional Campaign Across a Plurality of Rewards Programs - Disclosed are methods, computer-program products, and systems for running a promotional campaign across a plurality of rewards programs offered by rewards-program owners. Each rewards program is associated with a rewards currency. In such a method, transactions of members of the rewards programs are monitored to identify a subset of members that performed a desired action. Then, the rewards currency of respective rewards programs is distributed to respective rewards-program owners for the subset of members that performed the desired action.

05-06-2010

20100114662

Real-world profile data for making virtual world contacts - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities and transactions. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may be a possible recipient of a real-world consequence or benefit based on a virtual world occurrence. In some instances confirmation of an awarded real-world benefit may be provided via a communication interconnection. Real-world profile data for a targeted virtual world patron may be used in connection with promoting or offering or awarding a real-world benefit in a virtual world environment.

05-06-2010

20100114651

COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED, AUTOMATED MEDIA PLANNING METHOD AND SYSTEM - An automated computer system for scoring the effectiveness of a number of number of media options for purposes of media planning is provided. The system implements the following functions: receiving a client objective for a media plan for advertising a number of products and/or services and a consumer purchasing frequency for the number of products and/or services; receiving a number of media product options; and scoring the effectiveness of each of the number of media product options based on the client objective and the consumer purchasing frequency to obtain a value for each of the number of media product options. The client objective may be selected from a number of discrete objectives and the consumer purchasing frequency may be selected from a number of consumer purchasing frequency options.

05-06-2010

20100070344

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING AND DISPLAYING PRICE DISTRIBUTIONS BASED ON ANALYSIS OF TRANSACTIONS - Embodiments of systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, display and monetization of pricing data for commodities in general, and which may be particularly useful applied to vehicles are disclosed. Specifically, in certain embodiments, historical transaction data associated with a particular vehicle configuration may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data associated with the vehicle configuration. The historical transaction data or determined pricing data may then be presented in an intuitive manner.

03-18-2010

20100293037

Method For Automatically Creating a Customized Life Story For Another - A method of creating a customized life story comprising using specific pre-determined questions based upon intended purpose and customer demographic to prepare a manuscript and a video derivative product, manually or automatically by utilizing computer programs, applications, or software to automatically organize the recorded information into pre-determined end product formats. The end products are based on an interview and items from a subject. Additional information from other members of the family can be added to the end products without the subject's knowledge. Digital audio and video files stored on a storage device are often included with the manuscript.

11-18-2010

20100293035

MAP ADVERTISING SYSTEM INTERFACE - In the Internet field, interfaces which support social interaction are used by two or more people to share information and content. An example is a geolocation (map-type) interface (a web page for instance) which is relied upon by users to obtain travel routes, plan trips and find geolocation information, such as stores, restaurants and other places. Described here is a system for advertising whereby targeted advertisements are displayed to users of such an interface and the advertisements are the result of an analysis of user behavior during a particular interface session or several sessions, so advertisements are closely targeted to each particular user.

11-18-2010

20110066474

Method and System for for Financial Planning - A method and system for financial planning are provided. A first financial plan is prepared via a financial planning engine executing on a server for presenting to a customer via a customer interface. A second financial plan is prepared via the financial planning engine for presenting to a financial advisor via an advisor interface.

03-17-2011

20100100423

Picture your prize / bodagle marketing method - The Picture Your Prize/Bodagle Marketing Method herein known as Bodagle, incorporates advertising into a fun and interactive game of chance. As users play the game their movements throughout the game board are tracked and categorized into a demographic profile. Unlike traditional games of chance where the winning prize is pre-determined, Bodagle users are allowed to make a choice from an array of products and services which they would most like to win. Users must scroll over the pictures of products or services within the game board in order to identify those products and services. The identification of those products and services appears in the product viewing screen and is tracked by Bodagle. Bodagle reports to advertisers eyeball time. Eyeball time is the amount of time a product or service appears in the product viewing screen.

04-22-2010

20100100419

DIGITAL MARKETING OPTIMIZATION - A system for experimentation includes an experiment engine which can define an experiment relating to various treatments for a set of content elements. The experiment engine conducts the experiment by delivering treatments to control groups over the network. The selection of the treatments to deliver is optimized to provide treatments having a greater likelihood of satisfying an objective of the experiment.

04-22-2010

20100100418

ADAPTIVE SELF-LEARNING MARKETING AUTOMATION - Systems and methods for monitoring and adapting marketing campaigns are described. Various aspects of the systems and methods include dynamically adjusting presented campaign frequency based upon measured success criteria, identifying important or superfluous portions of a campaign to adjust campaign sub-part frequency based upon measured success criteria, and/or recombining campaign sub-parts into entirely new campaigns and selecting for successful campaigns based upon measured success criteria.

04-22-2010

20100100420

TARGET MARKETING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A marketing method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system total population data. A peer group is selected from the total population data. The peer group is associated with a first marketing action. A list of attributes characterizing the peer group is generated. The attributes are associated with the marketing action, demographic data, and additional purchasing habits of the peer group. A target group of individuals of the total population data is selected. The attributes are associated with the individuals of the target group. Scores associated with the individuals of the target group are generated. The individuals of the target group are ranked based on said scores. A ranking list based is generated. The ranking list includes the individuals of the target group in a ranked order. The ranking list is stored.

04-22-2010

20100100417

COMMERCIAL INCENTIVE PRESENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method is described that tracks the behavior of a user interacting with an information retrieval system, such as an Internet search engine, and selectively determines whether or not to present a commercial incentive to the user based on the tracked behavior. The system and method may limit the number of times that a commercial incentive is presented to an eligible user, thereby creating a strong incentive for the user to utilize the commercial incentive. The system and method may also assess a level of interest of the user in subject matter associated with the commercial incentive based on the tracked behavior and dynamically determine one or more terms of the commercial incentive based on the assessment.

04-22-2010

20100100416

Recommender System - A recommender system may be used to predict a user behavior that a user will give in relation to an item. In an embodiment such predictions are used to enable items to be recommended to users. For example, products may be recommended to customers, potential friends may be recommended to users of a social networking tool, organizations may be recommended to automated users or other items may be recommended to users. In an embodiment a memory stores a data structure specifying a bi-linear collaborative filtering model of user behaviors. In the embodiment an automated inference process may be applied to the data structure in order to predict a user behavior given information about a user and information about an item. For example, the user information comprises user features as well as a unique user identifier.

04-22-2010

20100100415

COMMON TAG FORMAT FOR AD SERVING AND INFORMATION TRACKING IN INTERNET ADVERTISING - Systems, methods, and computer programs for implementing a common tag format in an Internet advertising and tracking system are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an ad delivery system, a beacon system, and a management system. The ad delivery system serves ads to a browser visiting a publisher's web page. The beacon system collects usage data on the publisher's web site. The management system receives a service request, checks the request type of the service request, and then forwards the request to the ad delivery system, or to the beacon system, or to both, according to the request type. The service request is originated by a common tag embedded in the publisher's web page when loaded by a browser. The same common tag format is used for ad and tracking requests, thereby simplifying the management of the publisher's website and simplifying the migration process to change from just tracking a website to serving ads, merely by changing a parameter in the tag embedded in the publisher's page.

04-22-2010

20100100414

OPTIMIZATION OF ALLOCATION OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT INVENTORY - A system for advertisement inventory allocation is disclosed, including a database to store advertisement impressions. An indexer builds a plurality of index tables each associated with an attribute that is mapped to a plurality of the impressions. An impression matcher constructs a flow network including a plurality of nodes each containing impressions of at least one corresponding attribute projected to be available during a time period, a plurality of contracts each including specific requests for impressions that satisfy a demand profile during the time period, and a plurality of arcs to connect the plurality of nodes to the plurality of contracts that match the demand profile of each contract. An optimizer optimally allocates impressions from the nodes to the contracts during the time period by solving the flow network with a minimum-cost network flow algorithm that maximizes delivery of the impressions to the contracts in a way that satisfies the corresponding demand profiles and that specifies a number of impressions to flow over each of the plurality of arcs.

04-22-2010

20100094686

Interactive live events - An interactive event allows clients to provide feedback to the performing artist and/or producers relative to the event being observed. Feedback options include shout outs, emotapplause, and voting. Ticket scarcity management system adjusts event promotion and ticketed sales methodologies to maintain optimal sales conditions for an interactive event. Multiple camera angles of an interactive event are simultaneously distributed as part of a broadcast to enable switching between cameras by the audience members without interruption of the presentation of the event.

04-15-2010

20100094685

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VALUE FOR AN ENTITY - One embodiment relates to a system for valuing an entity. In at least one embodiment, the system can be utilized over a computer network. The system can include a processor, computer or means for determining a financial value via at least one calculation, a processor, computer or means for determining a trust value via at least one calculation, a processor, computer or means for determining a total value by combining a determination of a financial value and a trust value, and a processor, computer or means for presenting the total value to an entity. In addition, in at least one embodiment, there is also a process for valuing an entity comprising determining a financial value via at least one calculation and then determining a trust value via at least one calculation, and then determining a total value by combining a determination of a financial value and a trust value and then presenting the total value to an entity. This process can be performed using a processor, computer or computer network.

04-15-2010

20100094684

PARTICIPANT DATA GATHERING FOR EXPERIENCE MARKETING EVENT - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to marketing and provide a novel and non-obvious method, computer system and computer program product for collecting information at experience marketing events. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for collecting information from participants at an experience marketing event is provided. The method can include collecting written information from a participant at a computer terminal and collecting location information from the participant in a defined location of the experience marketing event, wherein the location information is collected from an electronic marker worn by the participant. The method may further include collecting game play data from the participant via a video game provided at the experience marketing event and recording the written information, the location information and the game play data in a record associated with an identity of the participant.

DYNAMIC GEO-LOCATION PARAMETER FOR DETERMINING AN IMPACT OF ONLINE BEHAVIOR ON OFFLINE SALES - Online behavior of users related to a product is captured. Also, offline sales for the product is also captured. Geo-location parameters are also determined for the captured online and offline data. Using the geo-location parameters and captured data for the product, a smallest geo-location parameter of statistical significance for estimating an impact of the online behavior on offline sales is determined.

04-15-2010

20100082409

NABST market mechanism - Enables self-serving consumer to indicate personal element of demand for a particular product so they are alerted to modified supply (promotion) for the product. Potential buyers use input in the form of MMS protocol or SMS protocol to communicate a proprietary code (identifying the store of product observation and a product of interest) to a communications host. The store and product information, together with a return address for responsive communications concerning the product, is stored in a third-party database. A seller interested in demand in their establishment could access the database and retrieve aggregate buyer-segmented product demand information for the consumer they target. The seller could effectively design incentive schemes and communicate promotional information by SMS protocol to the potential buyer via the communications host. The system is highly targeted, enhances economic communication of unsatisfied demand and delivers promotional supply information to self-targeted consumers with protection from unsolicited seller spam.

04-01-2010

20100082408

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUILDING AN OFFER OF OPTIONAL SERVICES FOR A GIVEN SERVICE OR PRODUCT - A method is provided for guaranteeing a set of valid additional services or products to offer to a user, which additional services or products are associated with a main service or product. The method includes building an affinity matrix of a plurality of additional services and products to attribute an affinity level between each additional service or product with at least one other additional service or product based on the association with the main service or product, determining a coherence level between the additional services or products and the main service or products such that an additional service or product can be marked as valid if the coherence level meets a predetermined level, and generating the set of valid additional services or products to offer to the user based on the affinity level and the coherence level.

04-01-2010

20100082404

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING DATE CONSTRAINTS IN AN ADVERTISEMENT SERVING SYSTEM - Generally, embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, systems and computer program products for utilizing date constraints in an advertisement serving system. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving a request for one or more advertisements that satisfy one or more constraints. A set of advertisement contracts is generated, wherein the set of advertisement contracts comprise one or more advertisement contracts that satisfy the one or more constraints. The contractual time period for a given advertisement contract in the set of advertisement contracts is then determined. A subset of advertisement contracts is then generated, wherein the subset of advertisement contracts comprises the advertisement contracts in the set of advertisement contracts that are active on a given date. The subset of advertisement contracts is then inputted into an optimization algorithm and one or more advertisement contracts are selected by the optimization algorithm.

04-01-2010

20100287036

COMPUTER-AIDED METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING AN ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESS OR SYSTEM - Method and apparatus for computer-aided assessment of organizational process or system. Method and apparatus are adapted to display questions on a computer to an assessor, who then inputs numerical and/or textual inputs relative to the assessor's perception of the process or system. Filtering techniques inhibit entry of unsupported numerical and/or textual inputs which may be untrue and/or exaggerated. Questions used in combination with additional questions provide more accurate assessment of the system or process, where the question combinations already exist in a database. Questions asked may be directed to one or more recognized standards, and duplicative questions from different standards may be omitted. Evaluations of collected information are performed and additional corrective action questions are asked to identify degrees of risk and areas of weakness of the process or system.

11-11-2010

20100287035

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING DELIVERY OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL TO COMPUTING DEVICES - A system and method for identifying, managing, and synchronizing delivery and storage of promotional material to computing devices associated with a user. The system and method are configured to receive a request from one or more of the user's computing devices to synchronize the delivery of the promotional material to at least a portion of the user's device portfolio. Advantageously, tile action triggering the sending of the synchronization request may include an interaction with the promotional material or an interaction with a web service application.

11-11-2010

20100287034

Computer-Implemented Systems and Methods for Determining Future Profitability - Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for determining future profitability for an entity. A present profitability model is generated for the entity based upon present values for a plurality of components of profitability. The present profitability model is used to create a future profitability forecast for the entity.

11-11-2010

20100287033

Social Network Based Recommendation Method and System - Recommendations for content may be generated based on social networking communities. For example, a user may receive a list of recommended content items based on content that has been viewed by others in the user's social networks. Recommendations may further be based on content information such as reviews, ratings, tags, attributes and the like from various sources internal and external to the user's social networks. Content items may be given a weight that corresponds to a determined level of relevance or interest to a user. Using the weight, a list of recommended items may be sorted or filtered. In one or more configurations, the weight may be modified based on an age of the content item. For example, the relevance, importance or interest of a news report may decline as the news becomes older and older.

11-11-2010

20100287032

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MATCHING DESIRED PURCHASES AND SALES OF MIS-MATCHED ITEMS - The present invention is systems and methods for matching desired purchases and sales of mis-matched items. These systems and methods compare the requirements of potential buyers and sellers of items against those of sets of other potential buyers and sellers of items to construct transaction sets that will enable an optimal transaction or set of transactions for the parties involved. The present invention may be used to match purchases and sales of any items, such as goods, services, financial instruments, and property interests (e.g., ownership interests in real property, possessory interests in personal property, etc.).

11-11-2010

20100287031

Method, Apparatus, System, and Computer Program for Selecting Replacement User Devices - Selecting replacement user devices involves tracking user interactions with an apparatus on an ongoing basis and storing usage pattern data derived from the user interactions. A user-generated request to replace the apparatus with a different apparatus is received, causing the usage pattern data to be compared with features of available devices. A listing of recommended devices selected from the available devices is rendered on the apparatus in response to the request.

11-11-2010

20100287030

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COMBINATION PACKAGE BEST OFFER - In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method to provide customized combination package best offers is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a plurality of items from a potential buyer, the selection of the plurality of items creating a customized combination package. A determination is made as to whether the potential buyer is qualified to make the best offer. Available price history associated with the customized combination package is provided to a qualified buyer. A best offer from the qualified buyer is then received and provided to a seller selling the plurality of items.

11-11-2010

20100287029

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE EFFECTS OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY ON SALES - Example systems, methods, processes, and apparatus for determining expected base sales for a product include obtaining sales data for a product sold at a point of sale location. The sales data can be organized in a time series according to a predetermined time period. The method further includes identifying a promotional event for at least one of the product and the point of sale location and excluding sales data corresponding to the promotional event. The remaining sales data is processed using a smoothed moving average model involving a plurality of passes through the remaining sales data. Expected base data for the product is generated based on the smoothed moving average model and output to a user.

11-11-2010

20100287028

SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR DETERMINING ATTENTION AREAS OF A WEB PAGE - During an interaction with a web page, user interface events are recorded and augmented with page layout data from the document object model. An event stream is formed with the page layout data and communicated to an event server. The event server processes the event stream to determine a location at which the events were generated and determines attention data for each event stream that indicates where a user's attention was directed during an interaction. The attention data for a plurality of event streams is aggregated to determine common or popular areas of interest of the web page.

11-11-2010

20100287026

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ONLINE VIDEO ADVERTISEMENTS BASEDON DETERMINED USER TOLERANCES - There is provided a system and method for providing online video advertisements based on determined user tolerances. There is provided a method for use by a server to present advertisements for online videos, the method comprising streaming a first online video and a first advertisement to a client, receiving one or more responses to the streaming of the first advertisement, updating a client advertisement history with the one or more responses, beginning to stream a second online video to the client, and determining a placement including a starting time and a duration for a second advertisement during the streaming of the second online video to the client based on user tolerances determined from the client advertisement history.

11-11-2010

20100293031

System and method for effectively supporting an advertising catalog in an electronic network - A system and method for distributing reminder information in an electronic network includes an information service that is configured to provide information distribution services through said information distribution network. User devices are provided for device users to communicate with the information service for receiving the information distribution services. A transport structure communicates with network entities in the information distribution network for collecting appropriate types of metadata. A transport server then performs a metadata analysis procedure upon the various types of metadata to responsively generate the reminder information.

11-18-2010

20100293033

DELIVERING CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISING TO A VEHICLE - Systems and methods are provided for delivering contextual advertising to a vehicle. An example system may include a profiler module executed by an onboard computing device of the vehicle, and configured to aggregate vehicle event data from a plurality of vehicle-based event sources, and to develop user profile data based on the vehicle event data. A communication agent may also be executed by the onboard computing device, and configured to transmit the user profile data to an advertising service executed on an advertising server via a communication network. The communication agent may also be configured to retrieve an advertisement from the advertising service. The advertisement may be selected based on content of the user profile data. The system may also include an interface module executed by the onboard computing device, and configured to present the advertisement via a display, and/or speaker associated with the onboard computing device.

11-18-2010

20100293032

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING COMMERCIAL INFORMATION - Disclosed is commercial-information sharing system in which a vendor provides a shopping device to a customer. When the shopping device presents commercial information to the customer that the customer finds interesting, the customer may choose to share the commercial information. The information is sent from the vendor's shopping device to a personal communications device of the customer. The customer then uses his personal communications device to share the information. The vendor may send tracking information along with the commercial information. If someone is interested in the commercial information shared by the original customer and goes to the vendor to, for example, redeem a coupon, the tracking information provides the vendor with important marketing data. The original customer may also share content that he generates and then associates with the commercial information.

11-18-2010

20100306022

ADVERTISEMENT CONTENT SELECTION AND PRESENTATION - Systems, devices and methods that enable advertisement on mobile computing applications are provided. More specifically, described herein are devices and methods that are capable of delivering relatively more friendly advertising information to a user while causing less interference on graphics-based user interfaces of such devices. Integral projector modules which may be embedded in mobile computing devices are also provided. These modules may be capable of externally projecting advertising content upon most any surface.

12-02-2010

20100121679

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPRESENTATIVE ALLOCATION AND PRICING OF IMPRESSION SEGMENTS OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT IMPRESSIONS FOR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - An improved system and method for representative allocation and pricing of impression segments of online advertisement impressions for advertising campaigns is provided. An inventory of online advertisement impressions may be grouped in impression segments according to attributes of the advertisement impressions and advertising campaigns for impressions targeting specific attributes may be received. A representative number of advertisement impressions from the impression segments may be determined for allocation to the advertising campaigns by maximizing the prices of the impression segments for each of the values of the advertising campaigns. The representative number of advertisement impressions from the impression segments may be allocated for the advertising campaigns, and the price of each of the advertising campaigns may be output for the allocated advertisement impressions.

05-13-2010

20100057540

TERM CATERING SYSTEM AND TERM CATERING METHOD - In a term catering system, a management device held by a delivery agent and a manufacturer of cooking appliances outputs reservation sequence information including sequence identification data corresponding to a reserved cooking menu for each customer and obtains feedback information from the customer. The cooking appliance lent to the customer for a certain term controls cooking of a food material delivered by the delivery agent, according to cooking sequence data specified by the output reservation sequence information, among a plurality of cooking sequence data stored beforehand.

03-04-2010

20100057531

Discovering Rarely-Planned Parts using Order Proposal Data - Discovering Rarely-Planned Parts using Order Proposal Data Discovering rarely-planned parts using order proposal data in a manufacturing/assembly environment. Requests for rarely-planned parts are detected by analyzing data from order proposals, providing early warning to the manufacturer prior to receiving an order that uses the parts and allowing the manufacturer to perform advance planning, ordering, and/or scheduling for the parts. The early warnings may also pertain to resources which may be associated with the parts, including testing, documentation, and so forth for supporting use of the parts in products. User-specified rules (or other conditions/constraints) may be used for defining which order proposals to analyze and/or the type of analysis to be performed.

03-04-2010

20100057530

System and Method for Electronic Transactions and Providing Consumer Rewards - A system and method for electronic transactions involves a website that displays an advertisement of a merchant. The website includes a feature that allows a visitor to the website to commit to making a purchase from the merchant within a certain period of time. The website visitor is encouraged to make the purchase by a commitment made by the merchant to donate or giveback a portion of the purchase value. When the website visitor actually makes a purchase from the merchant at a later time, the system and method allows for identification of the visitor as somebody who earlier made a purchase commitment, thereby allowing the merchant to determine whether to make a donation and to determine the effectiveness of the advertisement.

03-04-2010

20100030619

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPUTERIZED ANALYSES OF SHOPPING BASKET PARAMETERS - There are provided a system and a method for computerized analyses of shopping basket parameters. The method comprises obtaining a specification of an initial shopping basket; generating a list of associated products available in the shops of interest; generating shopping basket corresponding to the shops of interest; calculating and comparing the prices of the respective baskets. The method may further comprise obtaining a plurality of previous order lists and a current order list corresponding to respective shops; identifying for one or more products in the current order list at least one previous order list comprising a product associated in the list of associated products to the product in the current order list as “replacing”; and calculating a replacing score. The method may also comprise generating an aggregated shopping basket corresponding to said shops of interest; analyzing the obtained computerized order lists together with the generated aggregated shopping basket, thereby calculating weights of the products comprised in the aggregated shopping basket; and calculating a weighted price of the aggregated shopping basket.

02-04-2010

20090076884

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CROSS-SELLING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ACROSS AN ENTERPRISE - A system for cross-selling products and/or services across an enterprise comprising an enterprise-level decision engine and a plurality of line-of-business decision engines; wherein characteristics derived by the enterprise-level decision engine are used by the line-of business-level decision engines to generate cross-sell offer decisions; enterprise-level business rules and line-of-business-level business rules are managed independently of one another; a publish-subscribe message framework allows data to be published at an enterprise level and subscribed to by the line-of-business decision engines according to business rules established at the line-of-business level; the line-of-business decision engines generate cross-sell offer decisions; and the enterprise-level decision engine stores data to and retrieves data from an operational and an analytics data repository. A method of using the system described above to generate cross-sell offer decisions.

03-19-2009

20090106086

Systems and Methods for Planning, Estimating and Billing Advertising Impressions - The present invention relates to systems and methods for determining the number advertising impressions delivered by advertisements. The present invention also relates to systems and methods for planning and billing advertising. Herein are disclosed a variety of measures, estimates, and indexes that may be used to improve the accuracy of advertisement estimation. Also disclosed are methods and systems for using the described indexes and modifiers to plan, estimate, and bill advertisements.

04-23-2009

20080221971

Using commercial share of wallet to rate business prospects - Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Research analysts can use CSoW/CSoSW to provide a comprehensive and robust indication of the business prospects of a rated company.

09-11-2008

20080221975

Campaign manager - A process identifies multiple campaign activation points associated with a voice-based menu hierarchy such that the voice-based menu hierarchy is accessed by multiple callers. The process continues by identifying a campaign associated with the voice-based menu hierarchy and determining a campaign value associated with the campaign. Additionally, the process determines an opt-in rate associated with the campaign and determines a likelihood that callers will reach each campaign activation point. A score associated with the campaign is then calculated for each campaign activation point.

09-11-2008

20080221968

Method and system for interacting with users of portable devices - A method and system for interacting with users of portable devices is disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a mechanism for initiating interactions with users of a portable device in response to triggers detected in monitored data, where the monitored data may pertain to at least one of a time of day, a location of the portable device, a characteristic of the portable device, a characteristic of a wireless network over which the portable device communicates, and a user-initiated event associated with at least one of the portable device and an application running on the portable device. As such, the relevance of the timing of the interaction is increased. Further, the interactions may be tailored based upon the monitored data, thereby increasing the relevance of the content of the interaction. As such, embodiments provide means for intelligently interacting with users of portable devices.

09-11-2008

20080221967

Attribute-Based Ordering System - By letting the needs of customers be specified by the corresponding resource attributes instead of specific resources, more customer needs can be met and the overall costs of assigning resources to customers can be minimized

09-11-2008

20090192877

Chapman Icon Charting - A method for using a computer to execute the electronic transformation of data into a visual depiction, the method comprising the steps of recording the values of a plurality of data points during a data period; recording the creation sequence of the data points; executing the electronic transformation of the plurality of data points into a visual depiction by using a computer; displaying the extreme values of the data points by using a first substantially straight line having two tips such that a first tip of the first substantially straight line represents the upper extreme and the second tip of the substantially straight line represents the lower extreme; displaying the first data point of the data period by using a second substantially straight line that is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially straight line; displaying the last data point of the data period by using a third substantially straight line that is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially straight line; indicating the first extreme value by using a fourth substantially straight line that connects a first tip of the second substantially straight line to the tip of the first substantially straight line that designates the first extreme value; indicating the first data point of a closing timeframe and the last data point of the closing timeframe by using a fifth substantially straight line that connects a first tip of the third substantially straight line to a point on the first substantially straight line; displaying a value scale at the same time and in combination with displaying the first substantially straight line.

07-30-2009

20090192881

METHODS OF ADVERTISING USING DIGITAL STAMPS - Provided are methods that include using a computer to insert digital stamp advertisements from corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations and the like, into a user's email, social networking website or web communication. The digital stamp may be an intelligent file having computer code embedded thereon, such that the digital stamp is capable of gathering and/or reporting data regarding use of the digital stamp. Example methods include logging use of the digital stamp and compensating a user for such use. Also provided are computer-readable media having computer readable instructions embodied thereon, that when read by a machine, cause the machine to perform the present methods. Further provided are computer systems that include a database having information regarding digital stamps available for a user to include in computer-implemented communications.

07-30-2009

20090192874

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TARGETED ADVERTISING - A system and method for providing advertising media to consumers is described. The system comprising image capture means, an image processing unit connected to the image capture means. In use, the image processing unit executing one or more pattern recognition algorithms on an image received from the image capture means to extract information from the image relating to consumers in the image. The system compiling a list of attributes associated with an individual consumer based on the extracted information. The system including an advertising media database, an advertising selection unit connected to the image processing unit and the advertising media database. In use the advertising selection unit selecting advertising media from the advertising media database based on the list of attributes. The system also including an advertising delivery unit connected to the advertising selection unit for delivering advertising media selected by the advertising selection unit.

07-30-2009

20090192872

INFERRING ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION AND DATA MINING - A method, performed by a mobile device, may include receiving transponder information relating to a consumer product, and verifying whether user consent exists to forward the transponder information to a network device for data mining processing. The method may further include transmitting the transponder information to the network device, when user consent exists.

07-30-2009

20090150221

LEAD GENERATION WEB-SITE - Disclosed is a lead generation web-site primarily serving the niche market of real estate investors.

METHOD TO FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A COMPANY AND A RECRUITER INCLUDING A BOUNTY - The present invention includes a method to facilitate engagement and communication between a company with an available position and a recruiter. The method includes the steps of posting information about the available position for the company, and receiving information about a candidate for the available position of the company from the recruiter, and submitting the information about the candidate for the available position of the company to the company. The method further includes the step of receiving payment from the company and transmitting a portion of the payment to the recruiter upon the selection by the company of a candidate for the available position.

05-14-2009

20090187470

METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT SURVEYS BY THE EXCHANGE OF TARGETED INFORMATION BETWEEN USERS AND WEB SITES OF A NETWORK - The method according to the invention involves a plurality of Web sites each belonging to an editor and on which survey questionnaires may be displayed that are accessible to users distributed by means of a survey network, on the initiative of a plurality of advertisers who wish to carry out market surveys. It comprises the issuing by the advertiser of a survey questionnaire, the answer by the user to this questionnaire, a step where the advertiser asks the user additional questions, the qualification of the user based on the answers made to the additional questions and the provision to the user of a targeted content.

07-23-2009

20090192873

APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A DONATION-COORDINATING ELECTRONIC MARKET PLATFORM - The present disclosure details apparatuses, methods, and systems for a donation-coordinating electronic market platform that coordinates interactions and transactions between platform participants to facilitate the allocation of charitable donations based on consumer purchases. The platform sits at the intersection between charitable giving and retail transacting that is enabled by web-tools, search technology and electronic transaction processing. As such many new relationships are formed by the creation of a new set of technology links and functionality. The platform is configurable to collect, maintain, and update profile information for all participating entities; to link sales, marketing, advertising, and financial settlement; to track and report on consumer purchases, charitable donations, and advertising efficacy; and to build consumer loyalty while fostering a donation momentum that streamlines and maximizes the impact of charitable giving across market sectors.

07-30-2009

20090192866

System and method for using key-value pairing to identify uniquely a communication device on a mobile network - The present invention provides a system and method for using key-value pairing to identify uniquely a communication device on a mobile network. In some embodiments a user of the device visits the mobile network site of a publisher. The publisher sends header information received from the device to an inventoried content delivery service (ICDS). The ICDS analyzes the header information associated with the device and forwarded by the publisher. The ICDS locates a key-value pair in the header data that can be uniquely associated with the device, and stores the exact value of the key-value pair in a database. The ICDS then may use that value as an index for accumulating information accompanying the value. Thus, the ICDS learns about the actions taken on the mobile network using the device, and can use this information in a variety of ways.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS AND VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF BRAND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - A method of, and system for, measuring performance of a brand comprises: receiving, from a plurality of responders, responses to a set of survey questions, the set of survey questions comprising n subsets of questions, n being an integer, each of the n subsets of survey questions being intended to measure respectively corresponding one n attributes of the brand; assigning, for each of said n attributes, a score based on responses to respective corresponding one of the n subsets of questions, wherein said n attributes comprises: a connection attribute relating to perceived quality associated with the measured brand, and a loyalty attribute relating to loyalty towards the brand.

11-20-2008

20090240564

OPEN FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING, ASSOCIATING, AND INTERACTING WITH CONTENT OBJECTS INCLUDING ADVERTISEMENT AND CONTENT PERSONALIZATION - Information regarding a mobile user's context including but not limited to current mobile activity, social relations and associations history, and past mobile, search and browsing history is identified and converted to metadata. Metadata is also applied to content sources delivering content to a search engine or personalized content engine. The metadata is used in part to determine the relative display of content objects delivered to the mobile user as search results or a personalized aggregated information resource, e.g., home page. The user may select information, from one or more entities or search results or as presented to the user in other contexts, to be automatically delivered to the user's home page as a content feed including multiple content objects or content feeds associated with an entity. Information regarding mobile user activity is compiled and used to permit publishers and advertisers to identify target candidates to receive advertisements or marketing materials.

09-24-2009

20090157483

Method and system for using artificial intelligence to generate or modify an employee prompt or a customer survey - A system for modifying a prompt or a survey, including: an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer for receiving an audio input including: a response of an employee of a business entity to a prompt presented to the employee; or a response of a customer of the business entity to a question presented to the customer following a transaction between the customer and the business entity. The system also includes: a memory unit for the computer storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP); and a processor for the computer for: storing the audio input in the memory unit; comparing the audio input to a metric; modifying the prompt or the question using the AIP and the audio input comparison; and transmitting, using the interface element, the prompt or the question for presentation, on a respective display device, to the employee or the customer.

06-18-2009

20090157484

Method and system for directing a user from a content provider website to an advertiser's website - A method of allowing a consumer to be hyperlinked from a content provider's website to an advertiser's website based upon the use of one or more keywords. The advertiser would associate the URL address, of one of the advertisers with one or more keywords provided on the content provider's website. Therefore, when a consumer would click on these keywords, they would be sent to the website designated by the advertiser.

06-18-2009

20090157481

Methods and systems for specifying a cohort-linked avatar attribute - Avatars, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out obtaining collected population cohort data; and specifying at least one cohort-linked avatar attribute at least partly based on the collected population cohort data.

06-18-2009

20090157482

Methods and systems for indicating behavior in a population cohort - Avatars, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out identifying a member of a population cohort; and indicating at least one behavior in the member of the population cohort based on an association between the population cohort and at least one cohort-linked avatar.

06-18-2009

20090157470

METHODS FOR FACILITATING CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES - A method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers wherein master address information based on current address list information received from each of the mailers is maintained, and wherein the mailers are automatically notified of address changes based on change of address information for a plurality of movers provided. Also, a method of facilitating the maintenance of an address list of each of a plurality of mailers in response to a change of address request being provided to a postal service by a mover that specifies a new address for the mover. Finally, a method of assisting a party to notify selected payees of one or more changes in contact related information for the party that is provided in conjunction with an electronic bill payment system through which a party makes payments to the payees.

06-18-2009

20090157478

USABILITY EVALUATION METHOD AND SYSTEM OF VIRTUAL MOBILE INFORMATION APPLIANCE - A system for evaluating usability of a virtual mobile information appliance unites a virtual reality technology integrating various digital data created in planning and in designing a product to operate a virtual product and visualizing the virtual product in photo-realistic level, an affective technology organizing a customer's emotional evaluation on a product's design in view of engineering, an ergonomic technology quantatively measuring and analyzing body force activity involved in the operation of a product in a biomechanic manner, and a mixed reality technology supporting both tangible interface capable of directly touching the digital data and a photo-realistic visualization, to thereby finding problems of usability early, obtaining improvements such as a design of the product, improving efficiently an overall quality of the product and managing product-lifetime-cycle in a company manufacturing the product.

06-18-2009

20090157480

INTELLIGENT BROADCAST TECHNIQUES TO OPTIMIZE WIRELESS DEVICE BANDWIDTH USAGE - A system and technique is described to enhance the use of limited bandwidth by intelligent broadcast, which would allow many more users to access content that was broadcast or downloaded by another user or group of users. While many users may download content that is specific to them, e.g., a flight itinerary, other users download the exact same content, e.g., a song or a movie, so the net result is that a significant portion of finite bandwidth is used repeatedly to download the same content. Furthermore, users, based on the type of user, or profiled users, will download the same content in the same general time period, for example, the release of a popular new album, movie or video. Content providers and wireless providers, who may be the same or different entities, may then share in the benefits of this approach, e.g., the savings in bandwidth usage and the improved distribution to the end user.

06-18-2009

20090157472

Personalized Retail Information Delivery Systems and Methods - A personalized shopping system can provide for delivery of relevant information that is responsive to the needs and desires of shoppers. Any suitable information can be delivered including, but not limited to, advertisements. By taking one or more preferences or parameters of the shopper into account, the advantages of targeted advertising and/or other information delivery can be achieved with reduced adverse effects on shoppers. To the contrary, the shoppers may benefit from the system, since it is configured to address the needs of the shopper, rather than the needs of only the manufacturer, retailer, advertiser, or other information purveyor. The system can evaluate whether to present information at various opportunities based on the shopper's media preferences. Further, the system may respond to user requests for information. The system may be configured to provide navigational guidance, such as a map through a retail location, for use by a shopper.

06-18-2009

20090157476

MARKETING CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT - A device receives one or more of customer data, customer models, or customer reports, calculates scored information based on the one or more of the customer data, customer models, or customer reports, and generates marketing campaign information for a product or a service based on the scored information and the one or more of the customer data, customer models, or customer reports. The device also generates a customer list based on the marketing campaign information and the one or more of the customer data, customer models, or customer reports, and conveys the marketing campaign information to one or more customers on the customer list.

06-18-2009

20090157474

Managing Supply and Demand for a Ware - Among other disclosed subject matter, a method for managing supply and demand for a ware includes obtaining requirement information for a ware, the requirement information representing a forecasted demand for the ware at a specified time. The method includes generating supply information for the ware, generating pegging information, obtaining order information for the ware, modifying the requirement information and updating the pegging information. Any remainder of the forecasted demand of the requirement information that is not consumed by the order remains associated with the supply information in the pegging information.

06-18-2009

20090216611

Computer-Implemented Systems And Methods Of Product Forecasting For New Products - Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for forecasting the performance of products newly introduced to a market. For example, a business that seeks to introduce a new product onto the market may query the data maintained by the business about the results of previous introductions of new products. Further, the computer-implemented systems and methods, with or without the intervention of a human expert, may assess which of the historical products are most similar to the new product that the business seeks to introduce, and thus may use the most similar product as the basis for forming a product forecast for the product that is to be newly introduced.

08-27-2009

20090112700

System and method for brand affinity content distribution and optimization - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault.

04-30-2009

20090099900

IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE INTEGRATED WITH CUSTOMER DEMOGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION AND ADVERTISING SYSTEM - The present invention provides for an image display device, capable of producing a simulated 3-D image, integrated with a customer demographic data collection system that gathers user information by using video mining software and an advertising system that communicates the desired message to the user. The present invention allows for immediate, near real-time data collection for interpretive analysis while simultaneously delivering messages through an innovative advertising medium. The image display device allows for user interaction that can be detected via a sensor and interpreted via an information processing device. Customer demographic data collected include, but not limited to, age range, gender, ethnicity, number of users, time spent waiting in queue, number of impressions, time of impressions, number of touch screen hits, and number of image hits.

04-16-2009

20090043638

INTEGRATION OF REORDER-POINT BASED PLANNING AND TIME-PERIOD PLANNING - A system and method to perform time period planning and reorder point planning in a single planning run. Forecast data for a first subset of locations and inventory data for a second subset of locations is supplied to the planning system. Time period planning is performed on the first subset of locations and reordering point planning is performed on the second subset of locations in the same planning run.

02-12-2009

20090192867

DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, TRANSFORMING AND GOVERNING A BUSINESS MODEL OF AN ENTERPRISE - The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for developing, implementing, transforming, and governing a business model of an enterprise. In some embodiments, a method of implementing and managing a business model of an enterprise includes defining a business model using a business model tool that is executed by a computer, wherein the business model is based on interrelated business strategy, business goal and business constraint data, and includes a business service, inputting into the computer a first set of data representing a benchmark performance value of the business service, and operating the enterprise in accordance with the business model. The enterprise is monitored to determine an actual performance value of the business service, and the actual performance value and the benchmark performance value are processed in the computer to affect a comparison therebetween. The business model is modified based on the comparison.

07-30-2009

20090112690

System and method for online advertising optimized by user segmentation - An improved system and method for online advertising optimized by user segmentation is provided. A segmentation engine may be provided for segmenting a group of users by auctioned advertisements into segments of users and auctioned advertisements for serving users in a segment an ordered list of advertisements in the segment that have been allocated to web page placements for display in an online advertising auction. In response to a search term of a query submitted by a user, an auction engine may serve an ordered list of advertisements for the user's segment for display with results of the query. The click-through rates of advertisements displayed with results of the query may then be tracked for each segment and the list of advertisements for each segment may be ordered based upon updated click-through rates of advertisements belonging to each segment.

04-30-2009

20090055243

Systems and methods for predicting a livestock marketing method - The present invention is directed to methods and systems for improving the efficiency of livestock production using genetic information obtained from the animal. The methods of the invention comprise obtaining a genetic sample from an animal or embryo, determining the genotype of the animal or embryo with respect to specific quality traits, grouping animals with like genotypes, and optionally, further sub-grouping animals based on like phenotypes. The invention is further directed to a method of predicting the carcass quality of an animal by correlating the rate of change in carcass traits with the genotype of the animal.

02-26-2009

20090063255

CONSUMER EXPERIENCE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM - A system assesses consumer experience by evaluating neuro-response measurements for a consumer exposed to products, services, offerings, and stimulus. Examples of neuro-response measurements include Electroencephalography (EEG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electrocardiograms (EKG), Electrooculography (EOG), eye tracking, and facial emotion encoding measurements. Components of a consumer experience are analyzed to assess neuro-response measurements specific to each component. In many instances, neuro-response data is combined with other data and analyzed to determine total consumer experience.

03-05-2009

20090030780

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS OF MARKETING CAMPAIGNS PRESENTED ON MEDIA DEVICES IN PUBLIC PLACES USING AUDIENCE EXPOSURE DATA - Computational and computer-implemented methodological techniques are described for analyzing and presenting data on the audience response to audio and/or visual media advertising campaigns in public places. In various embodiments, these techniques employ a mechanism that assesses audience behavior to produce audience behavior data and audience exposure to produce audience exposure data, a network of display devices that records media events as media event data in a playlog, and a component that assembles the audience behavior data, audience exposure data, and media event data to produce data identifying media events that could have impacted audience behavior and data assessing campaign effectiveness as a measure of audience exposure.

01-29-2009

20090030777

System and Method for Message-Based Bookmarking - A method and system for collecting information on advertisers, products, and/or services of interest to a consumer. The present invention provides a bridge between the physical world and the virtual world that is beneficial to both consumers and advertisers. When a consumer participating in a consumer loyalty system is exposed to an advertisement of interest containing an alphanumeric identifier of the present invention, the consumer may send an initiation message to the alphanumeric identifier and thereafter the consumer's profile within the consumer loyalty system is mapped or linked to the profile of the participating advertiser. Such alphanumeric identifiers may be incorporated into all forms of known advertising media. The present invention provides a method and system for a consumer to easily bookmark a specific advertiser, product, and/or service for later review without having to write down or memorize a URL address or any other contact information.

01-29-2009

20090030775

SYSTEM TO GENERATE AND SET UP AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN BASED ON THE INSERTION OF ADVERTISING MESSAGES WITHIN AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES, AND METHOD TO OPERATE SAID SYSTEM - A method is provided that includes receiving message data at a server from a first remote device. The message data is associated with a message and the message includes text of one or more words, one or more characters, one or more symbols, or any combination thereof. The method also includes determining an intended recipient of the message and parsing the message data to identify text that matches criteria associated with an advertisement campaign. Further, the method includes composing an advertisement based on characteristics of the intended recipient and based on the text that matches the criteria associated with the advertisement campaign. Additionally, the method includes creating an audio file based on the message data and the advertisement and sending the audio file from the server to a second remote device, the second remote device associated with the intended recipient.

01-29-2009

20090030771

Performance management platform - A method of and system for creating a performance management platform for an organization and using said platform to support analysis, management, optimization, reporting and simulation for any part of the organization.

01-29-2009

20090089147

PROVIDER SUPPLY & CONSUMER DEMAND MANAGEMENT - Amongst other things, one or more requests is received from at least one consumer of services to consult with a service provider associated with a brokerage system and having a service provider profile that satisfies at least some attributes in a set of attributes. The consumer demand is measured for consultations with one or more service providers associated with the brokerage system and having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes. A supply of active service providers associated with the system and having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes is also measured. It is determined whether an imbalance exists between the consumer demand for and the supply of active service providers having service provider profiles that satisfy at least some attributes in the set of attributes.

04-02-2009

20080313009

METHOD FOR EXTRAPOLATING END-OF-LIFE RETURN RATE FROM SALES AND RETURN DATA - A method for predicting product return rate behavior. The ratio of the cumulative product returns to cumulative sales affecting product returns is calculated. The cumulative sales affecting product returns is calculated based on a benchmark distribution related to the product return behavior. Accordingly, a manufacturer is afforded a more accurate prediction of end-of-life return rate at a time preceding the end-of-sales life of a product.

12-18-2008

20090037258

Pension Fund Systems - A method, for use for example in pension scheme defeasance, comprises providing to an entity a financial instrument which undertakes to pay to the entity, at regular points in time within a specified duration, sums according to a schedule of payment amounts associated with the financial instrument, the scheduled payment amounts being arranged to match with the expected cash flow obligations of a pension scheme to its members. At a re-set point in time the schedule of payment amounts is re-set such that the entity will receive an adjusted payment amount calculated to be the aggregate of nominal cash flows to be paid to the pension scheme members adjusted to take into account the actual cumulative mortality experience of the pension scheme prior to the re-set point in time. Calculations for carrying out the method may be made using a data processing system.

02-05-2009

20090234705

VARIABLE PERFORMANCE SERVER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION - Disclosed herein is a server system having a plurality of computer systems and a liquid cooling system. The computer systems are capable of operating in a first mode of operation at a first operating speed and a first temperature. The computer systems are further capable of operating in a second mode of operation at a second operating speed and a second temperature. The server system switches from the second mode and the first mode in response to a request for processing services rising above a first threshold. The server system further uses a cold battery to store coolant during times of low demand and releases coolant from said cold battery when the system switches to the first mode.

09-17-2009

20090234718

PREDICTIVE SERVICE SYSTEMS USING EMOTION DETECTION - A predictive service system can include a gathering service to gather user information, a semantic service to generate a semantic abstract for the user information, an emotion detection service to identify emotion-related information, and a predictive service to act on an actionable item that is created based on the user information, the semantic abstract, and the emotion-related information.

09-17-2009

20090234707

Method and system for providing designer templates within a print order system - A method for providing designer templates to a customer, comprising providing a designer interface for receiving a designer template for a print product from a designer wherein a designer template comprises fixed content elements and at least one variable content element, and providing a customer interface for enabling a customer to select a print product and to select a designer template for the selected print product, enabling the customer to customize the selected print product by supplying his own content for the at least one variable content element of the selected designer template, and enabling the customer to purchase the custom print product that he customized.

09-17-2009

20090234706

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SALES LEAD GENERATION - A method of auctioning contact with prospective customers. A user profile associated with a prospective customer and use of proxy information to establish a communication channel by which the prospective customer may be contacted is auctioned to a plurality of bidders and, upon receiving bids, a group of winning bidders is determined. The winning bidders purchase the use of a communication medium to contact the prospective customer using proxy information which allows the prospective customers to remain anonymous.

09-17-2009

20090094095

RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON AN ADOPTION CURVE - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for recommendations based on adoption curve. A method includes tracking over a period of time user popularity of a media content using a web service residing in a server, the popularity and period of time representing a life cycle of each of the media content. The method tracks over the period of time users enrolled in the web service and when in the period of time each of the users adopted the tracked media content and associates adopted media content with user profiles representing the users. The method recommends media content associated with a first user who adopted the tracked media content earlier in the period of time to a second user who may want to adopt the tracked media content subsequently in the period of time.

04-09-2009

20090094094

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FORECASTING PRINT JOB RELATED DEMAND - A print demand forecasting system is provided for use with a print production system in which print demand data is collected for each print job processed during a selected time interval. The print demand data is processed with a computer implemented service manager to obtain a first demand series with two or more demand components and a second demand series with one demand component. Each one of the two or more demand components is less than a selected variability level and the one demand component is greater than the selected variability level. The computer implemented service manager is adapted to (1) generate a first demand related forecast with a combination of the two or more demand components, and (2) generate a second demand related forecast with the one demand component if convergent forecasting results are obtainable for the second demand series.

04-09-2009

20090094092

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVERTISEMENT PLACEMENT - A system and method of advertisement is shown. By associating a theme of an advertisement with an aspect of a music performance, the advertisement can be played in a time slot that is adjacent to the music performance during a broadcast. The close temporal proximity of the advertisement to the music performance enhances the effectiveness of the advertisement. Methods and systems of making an association between an advertisement theme and a music performance are shown. Examples of associating methods and systems to implement them include auction methods and systems. One example includes online auctions and systems for implementing them.

04-09-2009

20090012841

EVENT COMMUNICATION PLATFORM FOR MOBILE DEVICE USERS - A method, system, and apparatus are directed to communicating data over a network. Event attributes comprising at least two of a temporal, spatial, social, or topical information are received. An event structure comprising fields associated with a different one of a temporal, spatial, social, or topical dimension based on the received event attributes is generated. An advertising attributes about an advertisement is received. The advertising attributes may comprise at least two of another temporal, spatial, social, or topical information. If the event structure matches the advertising attributes, the advertisement may be provided co-located with the event structure. The advertisement may be configured to provide a value exchange if the advertisement is activated.

01-08-2009

20090012840

System and Method for Developing Loss Assumptions - A method for developing assumptions for use in evaluating the possible occurrence of an event comprises the steps of defining a plurality of factors correlated with each other to the event, assigning a plurality of levels to each factor, determining a relative occurrence rate for selected combinations of factors and levels, and assigning selected combinations to one of a plurality of cohorts. In certain embodiments, the method, and a corresponding system are used in designing an insurance product. The method may include the additional steps of assigning values to the levels and evaluating expected performance of the product based upon the values assigned to the levels and the expected loss distribution. The step of producing an expected loss distribution includes determining, for at least some of the selected combinations, a cumulative probability of occurrence, and determining, for at least one of the selected combinations, an incremental probability of occurrence.

Method and system of forecasting customer satisfaction with potential commercial transactions - A method and structure for predicting a satisfaction a consumer will experience contingent on accepting one or more offers from potential sellers. A request is received from a consumer describing one or more transactions in which the consumer may wish to engage. One or more offers are received from one or more potential sellers in response to the request. One or more predictive assessments are received from one or more predictors corresponding to one or more of these offers, each predictive assessment predicting a satisfaction that the consumer will experience contingent on accepting one or more offers from the potential sellers. For one or more of these offers, at least one aggregated prediction is calculated, based on the corresponding predictive assessments, according to a prediction aggregation mechanism.

11-20-2008

20090070188

PORTFOLIO AND PROJECT RISK ASSESSMENT - A system and method are provided for portfolio risk assessment. A user is prompted for answers to one or more questions that each relate to the risk of aspects of a project. The questions may take the form of a customized questionnaire, and the answers may be quantitative or qualitative. Compounding effects among the questions are identified. Based on these compounding effects, a compound risk score for the project is generated. In some implementations, correlating effects between projects are also identified. Based on these correlating effects, a correlated risk score for a project is generated. Some implementations may generate output data that allows a user to view projects individually and in combination to highlight compounding and correlating effects.

03-12-2009

20080288333

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMIZING A FIXED-ROUTE TRANSIT NETWORK - According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of optimizing a fixed route on a transit network, comprising the steps of: a) permitting a vehicle providing service on the fixed route to make deviations from the fixed route based on passenger requests; b) tracking the deviations and number of passenger requests corresponding to each deviation; c) submitting information from tracking step b) into a decision-making algorithm; and d) modifying the fixed route to include new stops based on results from the decision-making algorithm, as well as a system for implementing this method.

11-20-2008

20090171768

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCENTIVE BASED TIE-IN TRANSACTION - A method and system for incentive based tie-in transaction is disclosed. In one embodiment, an e-commerce system embedded with a transaction engine performs a method of an e-commerce transaction, the method including displaying multiple sale items on a website, and forwarding offering data which proposes a deal for a first item in exchange for a participation in one or more tie-in offers to an electronic device of a user upon receiving request data for purchasing the first item from the electronic device of the user, where the tie-in offers are selected from multiple registered offers based on transaction data associated with the user using the transaction engine. The method further includes forwarding receipt data confirming a sale of the first item to the electronic device of the user in response to a purchase signal triggered by the electronic device of the user.

07-02-2009

20080275760

METHOD FOR FACILITATING FINANCIAL AND NON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN CUSTOMERS, RETAILERS AND SUPPLIERS - A new medium of tender employs both a primary barcode and a merchant specific extension barcode that are both associated with specific consumers. The system operates within preexisting merchant platforms and links merchant systems, POS systems, inventory systems, SKU systems, barcode readers and a server switch. The system allows the ready linking and access of consumer transaction related information including purchase history, credit information, merchandise details and similar information. It further allows for the ready remittance of payment via the ACH network through the eCache computer network or other funding networks based on criteria established by the merchant itself. It further facilitates the administration of consumer rewards or loyalty programs and also facilitates consignment arrangements between suppliers and merchants.

11-06-2008

20090198568

System and Method for Modeling and Applying a People Network Representation - A system and method for applying a people network representation to aid contact between a member of an organization and a target individual selects a contact path between the member and the target supported by analysis of the level of interaction between members of the organization based on network communications of the organization. Level of interaction is analyzed using network communications that take into account the recentness and frequency of interactions, such as email, ICQ, or phone interaction. To contact a targeted individual, for instance such as to obtain expertise in a desired area, the model of the people network allows determination of a contact path between the member and target which improves the likelihood of obtaining the target's expertise. A contact path from a member may include a suggestion to contact the target through one or more intervening organization members.

08-06-2009

20090083119

METHOD FOR BUSINESS PLAN OPTIMIZATION BASED ON ATTRIBUTES - In a computer implemented system, business data composed of production and sales data is used to generate business plans optimized according to a plurality of attributes. The method is highly efficient in complex organizations having multiple interactive production flows, many products and/or many customers. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a method allowing the comparison between multiple business plans optimized according to different attributes is provided. It allows managers to make better strategic and tactical decision regarding which products to offer and which customers and markets to serve, thereby maximizing the profit the organization.

Increasing Incremental Spend By A Consumer - A rewards program has been developed that increases incremental spend by a consumer while maximizing the profits to a transactional account company. In an embodiment, a predicted spend of a given consumer over a given time period is calculated. A spend threshold for the consumer is set based on the predicted spend over the given time period. An incremental spend reward offer is then customized for the consumer, where the offer maximizes profits resulting from the offer based on a calculation of consumer profits derived from campaign group responses. The customization may involve, for example, simulating a response of the given consumer to an offer having various combinations of incentive variables, with the customized offer including the combination of incentive variables that maximizes profits resulting from the offer in the simulation. The consumer is rewarded for spend above the spend threshold during the given time period.

10-02-2008

20090150214

Interest level detection and processing - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to monitor an activity level associated with queries made in an online marketplace over a monitoring time period to provide an activity rate, and to determine that the activity rate has crossed a merchandising threshold rate. In response, a cluster of items or item groups associated with the queries may be presented on a display, perhaps in conjunction with a landing page merchandising promotion. Additional apparatus, system, and methods are disclosed.

06-11-2009

20090150222

METHOD FOR INCREASING THE ACCURACY OF SOCIAL NETWORK PROFILES - Described is a method for increasing the accuracy a profile of attributes, interests and preferences pertaining to individuals registered with virtual social networking services and a method of doing business wherein virtual advertising purchasers are offered increased precision in targeting commercial audiences, provided by the proprietor of a virtual social networking service. Registered users provide information regarding other users of the social networking services and are rewarded according to the success of adverts targeted to users according to the information they provided.

06-11-2009

20090150217

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PERFORM CONSUMER SURVEYS - Methods and apparatus to conduct surveys are disclosed. An example method includes receiving from a portable device activity data indicative of an activity of a person and counting a first number of exposures a person has to at least one of a first advertisement, a first product or a first location based on the received data. The example methods also include automatically offering at least one survey question related to the first advertisement, the first product or the first location to the person via the portable device substantially while the person is exposed to the first advertisement, the first product or the first location and after a plurality of exposures to at least one of the first advertisement, the first product or the first location. The survey question is communicated through the portable device. Finally, the example method includes storing a response received from the person.

06-11-2009

20090094100

COMPLETE SELF-CHECKOUT SYSTEM FOR RETAIL STORES USING WIRELESS ENABLED HANDHELD DEVICES - A novel system EzCheckout using wireless enabled hand held devices is disclosed. This system enables an all-new way of complete end to end shopping. The customer enters the code of the item he needs, does price check, does the checkout process and payment all by himself without interacting with any shopkeepers (unless he/she is buying some restricted items like alcohol). EzCheckout system is based on the wireless connectivity of hand-held devices like cell-phones and PDA's. EzCheckout is a simple but effective way of helping users to make their shopping fast and easy using the power of networking capability of handheld devices. This makes the customer shopping experience interesting and satisfying. This also provides a number of advantages to the store in terms of satisfied customers with lower cost of operation, capability for personalized individual marketing and reduced liability.

04-09-2009

20080275761

WINE DATABASE AND RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM - A method for storing wine industry data, consumer preference data, and inventory data for a particular type of wine in a database and using the wine industry data and consumer preference data to provide a personalized wine recommendation comprising obtaining information to identify a bottle of wine, receiving consumer preference data for the bottle of wine, searching the wine industry data based on the consumer preference data and providing a location-based wine recommendation to the consumer.

11-06-2008

20090164295

DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF DYNAMIC MODIFICATION OF SALE TERMS OF ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS - Device, system, and method of dynamic modification of sale terms of electronic transactions. For example, a system for electronic transactions includes a computer to store a set of sale terms associated with a product offered for sale, to receive a supply/demand alert associated with the product, to automatically modify one or more terms of the set of sale terms based on the supply/demand alert, and to provide to a client device the modified set of sale terms.

06-25-2009

20090089144

BID BASED ADVERTISING TO TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES - A method whereby a telecommunication device receives a transmitted advertisement from a plurality of advertisers willing pay for the transmission of advertisements, by bidding for priority transmission to a calling party's telecommunication device within one or more cellular networks, whose predetermined attributes match the advertiser's predetermined criteria.

04-02-2009

20080235076

OPPORTUNITY MATRIX FOR USE WITH METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL PRICING OF RETAIL PRODUCTS - A data warehouse system and application which analyzes historical sales and product data contained within a data warehouse to determine the best product prices across a set of products for a retailer. The application analyzes historical sales and product data contained in a database to determine an opportunity score for multiple products sold by a retailer, the opportunity score indicating potential benefit to said business from changing the pricing of a product; and analyzes historical sales data contained in the database to determine an ability to change score for each product, the ability to change score indicating potential risk of lost sales for the retailer from changing the pricing of a product. Results of the analyses are displayed in a scatter plot graph with the graph axes being the opportunity scores and ability to change scores, respectively. Each product is represented by a point in the scatter plot, the coordinates of the point being the opportunity score and the ability to change score associated with the represented product. The scatter plot graph can be divided into quadrants, wherein products having favourable opportunity scores and favourable ability to change scores are displayed together in one the four quadrants.

09-25-2008

20090125383

Participation profiles of virtual world players - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The participant or player may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can be involved in the virtual world and real-world activities and transactions. Some embodiments include arrangements for real-world informational data to be made available in the virtual world environment to a participant or player, based on virtual world activities related to a topic of interest to a real-world entity. Other embodiments provide for making a profile record for use by a real-world entity, wherein the profile record may include particular types of participation activity by a participant or player in the virtual world environment.

05-14-2009

20090164305

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING PRODUCT QUALITY - A computer-implemented method for managing product quality is disclosed. The method integrates various inspections on quality of materials and products from purchasing the materials until delivering the products to customers. A related system is also disclosed. By utilizing the method and the related system, multiple inspection results are recorded.

06-25-2009

20090210290

Method for determining, correlating and examining the causal relationships between media program and commercial content with response rates to advertising and product placement - A method of determining correlations and causality between media program content and consumer responsiveness involves identifying and storing media and commercial program time occurrence and content information and consumer media reviewing actions which occur in connection with the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. The information is correlated to obtain and assign responsiveness probability values corresponding to type and intensity of consumer response for each of the media and commercial program time occurrence and content information. These responsiveness probability values are then applied to a second media program to place product advertising at a specific time within specific content therein as determined by the responsiveness probability values thus facilitating creation of new ads and modification of existing ones and further, directing placement of those advertisements within any and all broadcast and Internet media programming.

08-20-2009

20090187471

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING ONE OR MORE ATTRIBUTES OF AN ORGANIZATION - A method of evaluating at least one attribute of an organization, by identifying at least one group of information holders, the group having at least one member who has information about the organization and at least one member who has information about at least one competitor of the organization, with the information about the organization and the competitor being related to the attribute; surveying a plurality of information holders within the group to seek responses comprising the information about the organization and the competitor, and analyzing the responses to produce an evaluation. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

07-23-2009

20090150211

System and Method for Making a Promotional Offer of a Coupon to a Checking Account Customer via an ATM - Disclosed are methods and systems for offering a coupon to a checking account customer via an ATM. Selecting a coupon to be offered to a checking account customer is based at least in part on information gathered from the customer's cleared checks, so that a coupon offered, is based on a proven sale. A customer may select to have a coupon delivered in paper or digital form by selecting a delivery preference at the ATM.

06-11-2009

20090150212

Method for identifying entities exhibiting patterns of interest related to financial health - A method of identifying a set of entities based on a pattern of interest is provided. The method includes identifying a reference entity and identifying one or more alert categories indicative of a pattern of interest in the reference entity over a time period of interest. The method further comprises determining a matching percentage of the pattern of interest exhibited by the reference entity, in one or more entities comprising the set of entities based on the one or more alert categories. The method further comprises identifying one or more of the entities comprising the set of entities that exhibit one or more of the patterns of interest exhibited by the reference entity, based on the matching percentage.

06-11-2009

20090150216

Method and System for Providing Real Estate Information Using a Computer Network, Such as the Internet - The present invention provides methods and systems for providing real-estate information using a computer network, such as the Internet. A buyer information web page showing relevant buyer list information in an easy-to-read, summary format is created and displayed to a real estate agent. Buyer information provided includes summaries of various aspects of information needed by a real estate agent to effectively represent and assist a buyer. Examples of information provided include a potential buyer name, a new activity summary summarizing newly-listed properties and other activity meeting the buyer's profile, a new views summary summarizing any views of detailed property information by the buyer using an online property data search and information system provided by the agent, and a new tags summary summarizing any properties that the buyer or the agent finds of particular interest. Moreover, a comparative market analysis (CMA) list web page showing relevant CMA information in an easy-to-read, summary format is also created and displayed to the real estate agent.

MOBILE CONCIERGE SYSTEM AND METHOD - The system enables a consumer to receive promotional offers using a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device includes a client application that enables the consumer to assign preference levels associated with promotional offer categories. The mobile communications device transmits a consumer identifier, a location identifier, and preference levels to an application server. The application server uses the preference levels and other information included in a consumer profile associated with the consumer identifier to select promotional offers that are likely to be of interest to the consumer. The application server transmits map data including indicators of locations of local merchants to the mobile communications device. The client application causes the mobile communications device to display the map data, and enables the consumer to request promotional offers from selected merchants. The application server analyzes consumer request patterns and updates consumer profiles accordingly to improve subsequent selection of promotional offers.

06-11-2009

20090150227

METHOD OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS FOR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS - A method is disclosed for determining whether to develop products for potential customers. The method may involve: identifying a plurality of potential products; identifying a plurality of potential customers; assessing salability attributes of the potential products from perspectives of the potential customers to generate attribute assessments; using an input device to enable a user to input the pluralities of potential products and potential customers, as well as the attribute assessments, to a processor; using the processor to determine, for each of the potential products, and using the attribute assessments, all possible implementation combinations in which at least n of the potential customers implement the product, where n is a positive whole number; using the processor to determine the probability of each implementation combination, for each product; and using the processor to assist in determining, based upon the probability determinations, which of the potential products to develop.

06-11-2009

20090150224

Television Traffic Estimation - A computer-implemented advertising management process includes receiving one or more indicators for a daypart or network on which to run a broadcast advertisement, and a proposed impression-based payment amount for running the advertisement, identifying one or more historical advertisement slots associated with the one or more indicators and applying the impression-based payment amount to advertising data for the one or more historical advertisement slots, and reporting an estimated advertising cost of running the advertisement using the impression-based payment amount and impression estimates derived from the advertising data for the one or more historical advertisement slots.

06-11-2009

20090150219

Systems and methods for delivering media content - The present invention is directed to a system and method for offering media content to consumers for a selected interval of time. In one or more embodiments, the present invention uses a content management system for preparing the media content for distribution, a subscriber management system for managing consumer accounts, a content distribution system for distributing the media content to the consumers, and a licensing server for issuing licenses restricting the use of media content.

06-11-2009

20080215414

RESOURCE FORECASTING AND SCHEDULING - Methods and computer systems for forecasting demand and availability of resources of a geographic region are provided. Physical, operational, traffic and construction data for a geographic region for a specified time period is utilized to compare the operational needs for at least one resource for a geographic region to the available resources to forecast demands and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region over the specified time period and determine whether the demand for the at least one resource exceeds the availability of the at least one resource. The forecasted demand and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region for the specified time period is stored and presented.

09-04-2008

20090164304

Method and system for using a self learning algorithm to manage a progressive discount - A system for managing a progressive incentive, including: an interface element for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer for receiving data regarding a current transaction between a customer and a business entity; and a memory unit for the specially programmed general-purpose computer for storing at least one compliance parameter and an artificial intelligence program (AIP). The system also includes a processor for the specially programmed general-purpose computer for: determining, using the data, compliance of the current transaction with at least one compliance parameter; for compliance of the current transaction with the at least one compliance parameter, augmenting, using the AIP, an incentive included in an offer previously presented to the customer, the augmented incentive to optimize revenue for the business entity or profitability of the business entity; generating a second offer including the augmented incentive; and transmitting, using the interface element, the second offer for presentation to the customer.

CUSTOMER LOYALTY DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM - Described are computer implemented techniques for developing customer loyalty by receiving customer data from a user, processing and maintaining the customer data in a relational database and producing alerts for the user based at least in part on the processed customer data. The techniques also feature accepting orders from the user for messages or gifts to be sent to customers identified in the customer data.

06-25-2009

20090164299

SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING AND CREATING ADVERTISER DEFINED GROUPS OF MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGN INFORMATION TARGETED TO MOBILE CARRIERS - A system is described for providing a user interface for displaying and creating advertiser defined groups of mobile advertisement campaign information targeted to mobile carriers. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may store mobile advertisement campaign information and one or more ad groups. The interface may be operatively connected to the memory and the processor and may communicate with users. The processor may be operatively connected to the interface and the memory and may organize the mobile advertisement information into one or more ad groups. The one or more ad groups may be associated with one or more mobile carriers. The processor may send at least a portion of the mobile advertisement campaign information via the interface to a user interface for display to a user. The portion sent to the user may be based on the one or more mobile carriers.

06-25-2009

20090164294

GEOGRAPHIC DEMAND DISTRIBUTION AND FORECAST - A computerized method and a system for providing geographic demand distribution and forecast are provided. Example embodiments may include receiving a criterion to identify an item and searching a database for data associated with a geographic distribution of demand for the item identified by the criterion. The computerized method may also include presenting the geographic distribution of the demand for the item on a map. The map may display multiple geographic areas; each one of the multiple geographic areas may be displayed with a first and a second attribute. The first and the second attributes may be associated with the demand.

06-25-2009

20090164298

System and Method for Market Reserve Price Modeling in Online Auctions with Advanced Match - Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to the estimation and modeling of market reserve prices for bidded terms in online keyword auctions with advanced match. Some embodiments of the invention estimate advertiser value distributions and advertiser bid distributions for the bidded terms and derive expected overall revenue. An optimization technique may be used to find the optimal market reserve prices for the bidded terms that maximize the expected overall revenue. In some other embodiments, a query is received for which a market reserve price is determined and exact and advanced matched advertisements are reordered for output and display.

06-25-2009

20090240557

METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR VALUING A TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION - A method, apparatus and computer program product for valuing a technological innovation is provided which determines at least one measure of market success of an objective based upon the desirability, availability and affordability of the objective. In this regard, the measure of market success may be the salability and/or the marketability of the objective. A fair value of the objective implemented utilizing existing technology may also be determined as well as a fair value of the objective implemented utilizing the technological innovation. For example, the fair value of the objective implemented utilizing either existing technology or the technological innovation may be determined using parameterized cost estimation. A real options pricing model may then be used to determine the value of the technological innovation based upon the fair value of the objective implemented utilizing existing technology and the fair value of the objective implemented utilizing the technological innovation.

INTERACTIVELY PRESENTING ADVERTISING CONTENT OFFLINE - Methods, media, and components are provided for presenting advertising content in an offline setting. In one embodiment, the method includes presenting on a user interface (UI) an advertisement in an electronic form that is associated with selectable options that are also presented on the UI. The selectable options lead to a presentation of supplemental advertising information that is related to the advertisement. The method also includes receiving user input via one the selectable options, and while not communicatively coupled to a source-delivery network, presenting supplemental advertising information that is related to the advertisement.

03-12-2009

20090204477

Ink Cartridge Distribution System and Method - The present invention is directed to a method and system of scheduling the delivery of printer cartridges to businesses that minimizes the number of cartridges that a business needs to stock and the likelihood that a printer will not have a compatible cartridge when it runs out of ink or toner. The method comprises conducting a survey of the printers in a business and the consumption of ink cartridges by the printers. The data is used to calculate a schedule for the manufacture or remanufacture, distribution and storage of cartridges for the business. At a scheduled time, a remanufacturer is contacted to remanufacture cartridges that are needed by the business. Optionally, if recyclable cartridges are not available, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is contacted to provide a replacement cartridge. The cartridges may be delivered a distribution center, which then delivers the cartridges to the business, or may be delivered directly to the client. At the time of delivery, consumed cartridges are collected from the business and the survey of equipment and cartridge consumption is updated. Where there is a change in the survey, the new data is used to calculate an updated schedule.

08-13-2009

20080235079

Method, Apparatus, and Program for Implementing an Automation Computing Evaluation Scale to Generate Recommendations - An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness.

System and method for brokering the sale of internet advertisement inventory - A dynamic vertical network management system is adapted to broker, between each publisher of a group of publishers and each advertiser of a group of advertisers, the sale of at least a portion of the each publisher's inventory of advertisement impressions. At least a portion of the advertisers are clients of a dynamic vertical network operator (DVN) with the DVN purchasing inventory from the publisher and utilizing such purchased inventory to fulfill advertising orders placed by the client with the DVN (network orders). A publisher data store stores, for each publisher of the group of publishers, a group of segmented ad placements. Each segmented ad placement comprises: i) a placement ID identifying an advertisement placement region within a web page; and ii) at least one distinguishing traffic attribute parameter. An advertisement-order data store stores, for each segmented ad placement, a group of advertisement orders. Upon receiving an ad request from an end user system rendering the web page, an order delivery system: i) determines the selected ad placement, ii) determines an open order for the selected ad placement meeting selection criteria, and iii) if such order is a DVN order: a) determines a client network order meeting network order criteria, and b) delivers ad content associate with the selected network order.

04-02-2009

20090164297

INTEGRATED BUSINESS DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An integrated business decision-making system is provided. The system comprises a data processing component, a prediction component and an optimization component. The data processing component is configured to process observational data related to one or more members of a target population. The prediction component is configured to predict a business measure based on one or more selected combinations of marketing actions and the observational data related to one or more of the members of the target population. The optimization component is configured to determine an optimal marketing action based on one or more of the selected combinations of marketing actions and the predicted business measure associated with each of the marketing actions. The optimization component is further configured to determine an optimal predicted business measure for the members of the target population, based on the optimal marketing action.

06-25-2009

20090144131

Advertising method and apparatus - In an apparatus that creates and distributes voice advertisements to end users, the apparatus includes a voice advertising portal and a network coupled to the voice advertising portal. A voice application server determines which portions of a voice advertisement will be cached locally at the voice advertising portal for subsequent local retrieval during user interaction with the voice advertising portal.

06-04-2009

20080208679

SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SELECTING A SUPPLIER - Under the present invention, componentized costs for providing/producing an item are collected from a plurality of suppliers. The componentized costs include the fixed and variable costs associated with raw materials and production for providing the item according to various specifications and order quantities. When a buyer wishes to obtain the item, a particular order specification and a demand forecast for the item will be provided. Based on the particular specification, the demand forecast and the componentized costs, an optimal order quantity for the item will be calculated. Then, a total (lifetime) cost for providing the item will be calculated for each supplier. The supplier having the lowest total cost for the projected lifetime of the item will be identified to the buyer.

08-28-2008

20080208678

Generating an Optimized Price Schedule for a Product - Generating a price schedule involves generating a graph having paths that include states with values. The graph is generated by determining the values of a successor state from the values of a predecessor state. An optimal path is selected, and a price schedule is determined from the optimal path. Computing an elasticity curve involves having a demand model, values for demand model, and filter sets that restrict the values. Elasticity curves are determined by filtering the values using filter sets, and calculating the elasticity curve using the demand model. A best-fitting elasticity curve is selected. Adjusting a demand forecast value includes estimating an inventory and a demand at a number of locations. An expected number of unrealized sales at each location is calculated. An sales forecast value is determined according to the expected number.

08-28-2008

20080208675

Directory assistance with SMS and data support - The current invention is a system for providing directory assistance service in which a user sends a request to the system and the system will, based on the request, return one or more advertisements. The user may select one of the advertisements, which may be in a visible or audible form. The request, and the advertisement, may be transmitted by Short Message Service (SMS). Additionally, the request may be in one form, such as speech, with the advertisement provided by another, such as text. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements categorized within the category associated with the service, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual.

Systems, techniques, and methods for providing location assessments - Methods and systems for providing location assessments are provided. Example embodiments provide a Location Assessment Provider System, which generates and provides assessments of various characteristics of specified locations. In one embodiment, the Location Assessment Provider System receives a specified location, determines a location assessment for the specified location, generates a visual representation of the determined location assessment, and provides the generated visual representation to a client system. Determining a location assessment may be based on geographic-related information about, or associated with, the specified location, such as the presence and location of geographic-related features associated with the specified location. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

04-02-2009

20090089150

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATION MANAGEMENT OF LOGISTICS CENTER - The present invention relates to a system and a method for operation and management of a logistics center In a system for operation and management of a logistics center according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the past patterns of product amount for a user's desired operation plan period is analyzed and product amount to be handled in a predetermined unit by the logistics center is calculated, on the basis of the analysis result. Further, an operation plan about manpower needed for work in the logistics center is made on the basis of the calculated product amount of interest and basis information for manpower operation determined by a user. Thereafter, it is monitored whether corresponding work is on the operation plan that is made, and then at least one of the monitored results is provided to the user. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently operate manpower needed in the logistics center, and to variously adjust and newly make a variety of work plans.

04-02-2009

20090089152

DISTRIBUTED LIVE MULTIMEDIA MONETIZATION MECHANISM AND NETWORK - Methods for managing monetization of live multimedia content include identifying a plurality of producers generating live multimedia content in a communication network. The identified plurality of producers is interactively connected to one or more consumers requesting multimedia content through the communication network. A monetization mechanism is provided for matching requests for multimedia content between the plurality of producers and consumers. The monetization mechanism manages monetization revenue of the multimedia content. The monetization revenue is automatically assigned to the producer of the multimedia content based on interaction at the corresponding multimedia content.

04-02-2009

20090083122

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING CUSTOMER BEHAVIORAL TYPES FROM A CONTINUOUS VIDEO STREAM FOR USE IN OPTIMIZING LOSS LEADER MERCHANDIZING - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for optimizing loss leader merchandizing. The process parses event data to identify physical patterns of customer behavior, wherein the event data is derived from a continuous video stream captured at a retail facility, and associates the physical patterns of customer behavior with customer profile data to form dynamic customer profiles. The process then analyzes the dynamic customer profiles to identify types of customers and presents marketing incentives for a set of loss leader items to customers of a selected customer type, wherein the set of loss leader items are selected based on the dynamic profiles.

03-26-2009

20090157486

Integrated Gourmet Item Data Collection, Recommender and Vending System and Method - Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.

06-18-2009

20090157485

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DISPATCHING NON-DIGITAL MERCHANDISE AND/OR ALLIED SERVICES RELATED CODE VIA A DEVICE OPERABLE ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A method and system of dispatching non-digital merchandise and/or allied services related code is described, via a device operable on a mobile communication network. The method involves providing a pre-defined code indicative of non-digital merchandise and/or allied services on a promotional medium, the promotional medium being viewable by a user. The predefined code is input via a device operable on a mobile communication network by the user. The pre-defined code is stored in a storage medium. The stored code is analyzed for determining consumer requirements, so as to extract requisite information from the storage medium. The information is extracted from storage medium according to the analyzed code. Extracted information is communicated to the consumer and merchandise provider via a device operable on a mobile communication network. Transformation of extracted information is performed simultaneously.

06-18-2009

20080275763

Monetization of Digital Content Contributions - Methods and system for admitting a content provider into a revenue sharing program are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request from a content provider to participate in the revenue sharing partner program and determining whether to invite the content provider based at least in part on infraction information associated with the content provider.

11-06-2008

20080275758

PRICE PLANNING PLATFORM - In embodiments, the present invention provides methods and systems, including, without limitation, a platform, for producing a pricing plan of record for an entity by determining a pricing plan, the pricing plan specifying price guidelines for a plurality of items on an individual basis while simultaneously being directed at substantially achieving an objective of at least one entity plan on an aggregated basis, and making the pricing plan available in a planning tool used to set prices for the items.

11-06-2008

20090012842

Methods and Systems of Automatic Ontology Population - Methods and systems for creating a knowledge graph that relates terms in a corpus of literature in the form of an assertion and provides a probability of the veracity of the assertion are disclosed herein. Various aspects of the invention are directed to and/or involve knowledge graphs and structured digital abstracts (SDAs) offering a machine readable representation of statements in a corpus of literature. Various methods and systems of the invention can automatically extract, structure, and visualize the statements. Such graphs and abstracts can be useful for a variety of applications including, but not necessarily limited to, semantic-based search tools for search of electronic medical records, specific content verticals (e.g. newswire, finance, history) and general internet searches.

01-08-2009

20080243588

System and method for calculating new product first year net margin contribution - A comprehensive computer implemented method provides the effect on contribution margin that results from substituting a test product for an incumbent product in the test product's peer group. The method normalizes test and control store data by applying subcategory indices to calculate margin lift and to forecast sales for selected store distribution. The method further determines the effect of new product build-rate on forecasted sales for test products in their first year of distribution. The method calculates a plurality of cost and income effects on contribution margin including net vendor funding, advertising and promotion effects, net markdowns, incumbent item disposition costs, and net plan-o-gram expense among others. The system provides a category manager with a single dollar metric that specifically identifies the economic effect of authorizing distribution for a test product in all or a subset of the retailer's stores.

10-02-2008

20080243586

RECRUITING ONLINE SURVEY PANEL MEMBERS UTILIZING A SURVEY TOOL - A survey tool, that may be a web-based or downloadable application, is provided to ordinary online users to enable them to create their own survey, quiz, test, poll, or similar item for posting on their website, blog, or social networking or community site page. The Internet user designs a survey utilizing the survey tool. The market research company allows the Internet user to post the results of at least one question from the survey designed by the Internet user on their own website, blog, social networking or community site page, etc. The market research company may invite the survey takers and survey viewers, as well as the Internet user, to join the market research company online survey panel through clicking on a link to the market research company's website. Thus, the market research company is able to add new members to its online survey panel with very little effort.

10-02-2008

20090150226

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MARKET RESEARCH DATA MINING - Purchases made by customers of a supplier of interest from other suppliers are estimated based upon panelist data regarding purchases made by panelists from the supplier of interest and from the other suppliers, and based upon customer data regarding purchases made by the customers from the supplier of interest. The panelists are a subset of the customers. A linear relationship between the purchases made by the panelists from the supplier of interest and the purchases made by the panelists from the other suppliers is determined. Based upon the customer data and the linear relationship, the purchases made by the customers from the other suppliers are estimated.

06-11-2009

20080275757

Metric Conversion for Online Advertising - Methods, systems and computer program products for estimating a CPC bid (eCPC) as a function of a target CPA bid based on predictive data (e.g., predicted conversion rate) have been described. The eCPC parameter can be used to develop a model that could be used to charge advertisers on a CPA basis while crediting publishers on a CPC basis.

11-06-2008

20080235077

SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO IDENTIFY INTENTIONALLY PLACED PRODUCTS - Systems and methods to identify intentionally placed products in media content are disclosed. A disclosed system to detect intentionally placed products in media content includes a placement monitor site to record an occurrence of a first intentionally placed product within first broadcast media content in a product placement record; an audience measurement site to record an audience interaction with a second intentionally placed product in second broadcast media content in an event record; and a collection facility to receive the product placement record and the event record

09-25-2008

20080281668

Determining the Effects of Advertising - Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for determining the effect of advertising are provided. Advertisement data is gathered at the location of an advertisement regarding the identity of the consumer exposed to the advertisement (the target), as well as the subject matter of the advertisement, by detecting the proximity of the target to the advertisement location, for example by using the target's mobile terminal. Shopping data is gathered at the location of a commercial establishment regarding the identity of the consumer engaged in the shopping activity (the shopper), as well as the subject matter of the shopping activity, by detecting the proximity of the shopper to the commercial establishment location, for example by using the shopper's mobile terminal. The data is received by a correlation server and analyzed to determine the effect of advertisements on a consumer.

11-13-2008

20080281670

OBJECT TRANSACTION METHOD AND SYSTEM - A transaction method and system. The system comprises a computing apparatus, a plurality of transceivers connected to the computing apparatus, and a plurality of transponder devices. Each transponder device comprising a customer data segment associated with a different customer from a plurality of customers for an entity. The computing apparatus receives from a first transponder device through a first transceiver, a first customer data segment. The first customer data segment is associated with a first customer of the plurality of customers. The first transponder device is possessed by the first customer. The first customer is located within a specified proximity of the first transceiver. The computing apparatus performs a first specified function for the first customer. The first specified function is based on the first customer data segment and a location of the first transceiver.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING FINANCIAL INVESTMENT INDICES - The present invention is a system that creates indices based on the “buy, sell and hold” research recommendations of research firms, tracks the performance of those indices, and allows clients to search for top performing indices according to a variety of search parameters and filters through a proprietary text navigation searching mechanism. Once the indices are created it can be offered to investors for a fee. The fee compensates the research firm and is defined by a fee structure that varies based on the method of compensation selected.

09-18-2008

20080281667

Method and Apparatus to Automatically Recover Well Geometry from Low Frequency Electromagnetic Signal Measurements - A technique that is usable with a well includes providing a model so predict measurements that are received by receivers due to transmission by sources baaed on estimated positions of the receivers relative to sources. The estimated positions each have at least two dimensions. At least some of the receivers and the sources are located in the well. On a computer, the estimated positions are automatically refined based on a comparison of the predicted measurements and actual measurements that are obtained by the receivers.

11-13-2008

20080228558

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VALUATING ITEMS AS TRADABLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMODITIES - Some embodiments qualify an item and a protocol associated with the item by determining an amount of environmental conservation that is related to the actual use or implementation of the item by a registrant. Some embodiments quantify the environmental conservation of an item by determining an amount of emissions reduction, energy savings, hazardous wastes or materials that are properly disposed of, or generated renewable energy associated from the qualified environmental conservation of the item. Some embodiments then valuate the quantified environmental conservation to issue a tradable credit.

09-18-2008

20080281674

DETERMINING METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERTISING SPECIALIST - The present disclosure includes a system and method for determining metrics associated advertising specialist. The method including identifying actions associated with an advertisement produced by an ad specialist. The ad specialist selected by a user from a plurality of ad specialist. One or more ratings are associated with the ad specialist are determined based, at least in part, on the identified actions.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC LAND PLANNING - One embodiment of the invention includes a land planning tool that maybe used to perform a variety of land planning tasks. The land planning tool may interpret global information systems (GIS) electronic data in conjunction with user-specified constraints to analyze and display a development site, visually indicating developable areas. The user may then use a pen-based device to sketch outlines of land planning objects. As the user sketches, the land planning tool may generate vector geometry stored in an electronic database for use by a variety of computer aided design tools.

11-13-2008

20080228552

System and method for providing product recommendations to consumers within a merchant location - Discerned relationships between products are utilized to generate product recommendation cards that are to be positioned throughout a merchant location. The product recommendation card contains information about one or more products that are likely to be purchased with a related-to product. The information carried on the product recommendation card may include one or more of the following for a recommended product: an image of the product; a brand for the product; a logo associated with the product; a textual description of the product; a bar code associated with the product; usage information for the product; and a location of the product within the merchant location. The product recommendation card(s) for product(s) that are likely to purchased with a related-to product may then be positioned in the vicinity of the related-to product within the merchant location to draw the attention of the consumer to these product(s) for the purpose of causing the consumer to purchase these product(s) in addition to the related-to product.

09-18-2008

20080288332

DESIGNATING A PARTING PRICE FOR A PHYSICAL ITEM IN THE CONTROL OF A USER - An item data management server provides for parting price for physical item inventories as a whole, in which the parting prices are subjectively based upon a value judgment for corresponding physical items and operates as an invitation for another user to make an offer for the physical item. The parting price for a physical item may also be based upon a factor of the estimated valuation data for the physical item.

11-20-2008

20080288325

System and Method for Providing Information Regarding a Redirection of an Internet User to a Webpage - Systems and methods for providing information related to a redirection of a user to a webpage are disclosed. In one implementation, an ad provider serves a digital ad in response to a digital ad request. A user navigation event, such as a click-through, related to the served digital ad is detected and information related to at least one of the serving of the digital ad and a user associated with the user navigation event is passed to an advertiser system that presents the user with a webpage associated with the digital ad. The advertiser system may modify, or dynamically create, the webpage presented to the user based on the received information.

11-20-2008

20090070199

Adult care information system and method - A system and method for providing consumer-based, adult care provider-relevant information in a consolidated format to potential users (e.g., customers, responsible parties, government evaluators, etc.) of adult healthcare facilities and/or services. A system and method typically enables healthcare providers and others to provide information and for users to obtain information via devices interfacing with a relatively centralized, network-connected, server-based presence.

03-12-2009

20080313021

Power demand and supply-adjustment system and method - A power consumption-demand/supply adjustment apparatus comprises: a monitor for a consumption amount of supplied power and the quality of supplied power; a contract-adjustment means for supporting establishing of contract for a power demand/supply by adjusting power demand conditions of a customer and power supply conditions of a power supplier; and banking means for requesting a charge of the consumption amount of supplied power and the quality of supplied power, and a charge to be paid from an accumulated deposit based on the contract; wherein the banking means requests the charge of supplied power and the charge to be paid from an accumulated deposit based on monitoring information sent from the monitor.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING CONTACT INFORMATION FROM WEBSITE TRAFFIC STATISTICS - A system and method for providing user-defined business contact information, relating to website traffic statistics, to a user approximately in real-time is described. One embodiment comprises receiving visitor information associated with a visitor to a website, wherein the visitor information includes at least an IP address of the visitor and a query string; determining an entity associated with the IP address; determining at least one person associated with the entity; gathering contact information associated with the at least one person; and providing the contact information to the user when the contact information meets a pre-defined criterion of the user.

12-18-2008

20080313022

Market determination system - A market analysis system uses travel time to define a relevant market area. A map is generated using stored geographical map information around a selected geographical point or area, and a travel time around the geographical point or area is selected. A trace is formed on the map around the geographical point within the travel time using travel time data, and market information is gathered from a database for the defined geographical area.

12-18-2008

20090024452

METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY OF MEDIA - Systems, methods and apparatus for collecting data and presenting media to a user are provided. The systems generally includes a data gathering module associated with an electronic device. The data gathering module communicates gathered data to a management module, which manages at least one user profile based on the gathered data. The management module may select media for presentation to a user based on the user profile, and the selected media may be displayed to the user via a media output device co-located with the user, such as a display of the user's mobile electronic device or a television, computer, billboard or other display co-located with the user. Related methods are also provided.

01-22-2009

20080243594

ORDER PROMOTION SYSTEM - In an order promotion system, the storage management server reads out, from the storage means, the order inquiry information corresponding to the member identification number transmitted from the retailer system, and transmits the order inquiry information to the retailer system, and the retailer system judges, based on the order inquiry information received from the storage management server and the order inquiry condition stored in the condition storage means, whether it is possible to make an order inquiry to the user with regard to one of the information data and each of the commercial products, determines a content of the order inquiry, and makes an order inquiry based on a judgment result corresponding to a result of the judgment and the determination.

10-02-2008

20080275759

Content Allocation - A method of publishing and/or allocating content to particular destinations includes determining probable content destinations. One or more probable demographics are inferred based on the probable destinations along with one or more further characteristics relating to consumption of electronic content at the destination. Specific electronic content is selected and allocated and/or published to one or more electronic devices at one or more of the destinations.

11-06-2008

20080215415

Mobile advertising - A system for displaying a mobile advertisement is provided. The system includes a mobile carrier for transporting cargo in a geographical region. A control signal receiver is coupled with the mobile carrier, wherein the control signal receiver receives a control signal used to communicate data related to the mobile advertisement. In addition, a display panel is coupled with the mobile carrier, wherein the display panel displays the mobile advertisement in the geographical region based on the control signal.

09-04-2008

20080294497

Feedback-driven ad targeting - Methods and systems for selecting and serving an ad to a Web page in response to an ad request from that page, where the ad being delivered has the highest or close to the highest expected value, are described. The prior history of an ad is examined and the circumstances relating to the ad that have led to a positive action for the ad in the past (such as a click on the ad by a user) are determined. This data are collected and stored in a first set of data. In addition, the characteristics of the ad request are examined. A likelihood function is used to derive a likelihood value which can be used to lead to a probability that the ad will be successful or have a positive result. Following this process, a group of Web pages is created that have shown a positive result when the ad was displayed. The creation of the group of Web pages results from executing one or more custom targeting engines. In addition, a group of ad requests for the ad that provided a positive result for the ad and another group of ad requests that did not provide a positive result for the ad are created. An ad is selected and served to the Web page based on a comparison of the ad request with these two groups of ad requests.

11-27-2008

20090012838

DETERMINATION OF A PREFERRED RATIO OF SUPERVISORS TO AGENTS IN CALL CENTERS - When determining a preferred ratio of supervisors to agents in a call center, one or more operation parameter values are determined for corresponding operation parameters. Based on the one or more operation parameter values, a benchmark ratio is correspondingly modified to provide the desired preferred ratio. Preferably, the benchmark ratio is identified based on a specific industry. At least one survey response concerning an operation parameter may be obtained and used in determining a corresponding operation parameter value. In this manner, a more structured and customized approach is provided in comparison to prior art techniques.

01-08-2009

20090006177

PROVIDING ADS TO UNCONNECTED CLIENT DEVICES - Techniques are disclosed, among other things, that provide ads to requesting applications while the client device is not connected to a communication network. An offline advertisement engine is provided for storing business rules for each of a plurality of corresponding stored advertisements, wherein the business rules and advertisements are stored locally on the client device. An offline advertisement media manager is also provided for storing creatives related to the stored advertisements, wherein the creatives are also stored locally on the client device. Moreover, an advertisement center client is disclosed for providing advertisements and creatives associated with the advertisement to an application in response to a request for the advertisements.

01-01-2009

20080313011

Online marketing platform - Online marketing platforms are disclosed that harness user generated content to encourage the viral sharing and tracking of online marketing campaigns. One embodiment includes a campaign hosting system including a database connected to a network, a campaign creation device connected to the network and a plurality of user devices connected to the network. In addition, the campaign creation device is configured to provide campaign information to the campaign hosting system via the network, the campaign hosting system is configured to automatically create an online campaign that is customized according to the campaign information and to store the campaign as one of a plurality of online campaigns in the database, at least one of the user devices is configured to provide profile information to the campaign hosting system via the network, the campaign hosting system is configured to automatically create a user profile using the profile information and to store the user profile as one of a plurality of user profiles in the database, each user device is configured to engage with the online campaign by communicating with the campaign hosting system via the network and each user device is configured to access the user profile by communicating with the campaign hosting system via the network.

12-18-2008

20080270224

Location-based services system - A system and method for tracking purchases in a location-based services system is disclosed wherein a request for information on a particular product is received from a consumer using a remote terminal. A geographically tailored response to the request is then generated with the location-based services system. At least one offer is then displayed to the consumer based on the geographically tailored response. An acceptance of a respective offer made by the consumer is then processed by the location-based services system and information is stored about the transaction in a usage data file or database.

10-30-2008

20080275762

VIDEO EMAIL WITH INFORMATION TRACKING - A system and method for identifying and tracking recipient behavior in connection with a multimedia presentation incorporated in an email. The email is received in the manner of an ordinary text email, but when the email is opened, it automatically commences the display of a multi-media presentation that includes streaming video that provides information about the viewing experience to the sender. When the recipient elects to open the email message, the recipient's computer is identified to the sender and correlated with information relating to the recipient's interaction with the program. Such information can include the portions of the program viewed by the recipient and the length of time each portion is viewed, and the identity of any recipient to whom the information is forwarded.

11-06-2008

20080275764

CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention is a system and method that targets communications devices with content from service providers, third party content providers, sponsors, promotional partners and advertisers. The invention matches the content with communications device users using customer profiles or device usage profiles and transmits the content to communications devices over a wireless network, via the internet, or other means. The communications devices store the content in an internal repository. The content is later displayed as a result of triggers by designated users' actions.

11-06-2008

20080275756

Apparatus and method for analyzing business continuity, and computer product - A business continuity analyzing apparatus includes a process-information extracting unit that extracts processes included in an operation to be analyzed, from a data configuration that forms an operation flowchart representing the operation; an association editing unit that edits association between the processes extracted by the process-information extracting unit and resources previously stored in a common resource master; and a diagram generating unit that generates an influence diagram based on the association edited by the association editing unit.

11-06-2008

20090157475

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION AND TASK MANAGEMENT - A method of manufacturer incentive distribution to consumers is provided the method comprises receiving a first list from a consumer, the first list having at least one item the consumer wishes to purchase, receiving an incentive from at least one incentive provider, the incentive being associated with a keyword on a second list of keywords, comparing the keyword in the second list to the at least one item in the first list, creating a third list which includes the incentive associated with the keyword if the keyword matches the at least one item in the first list, transmitting the third list to the consumer to permit the consumer to choose the incentive, receiving the consumer's choice of the incentive; and transmitting to the consumer the incentive.

06-18-2009

20090119161

METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS FOR OBTAINING, EVALUATING AND/OR UTILIZING SELLER, BUYER AND TRANSACTION DATA - Methodologies, systems, components and software are provided that perform web analytics to measure visitor to consumer conversion continuously throughout surfing, through conversion and past completion of a purchase on-line. In accordance with at least one embodiment, such methodologies, systems, components and software may be utilized to determine efficacy of a plurality of parameters relating to one or more Transaction Related Offerings (TROs). In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, such methodologies, systems, components and software may be utilized to configure one or more Consumer Behavior Decision Models (CBDMS) and/or generate consumer behavior data.

05-07-2009

20090125376

ADVERTISEMENTS ON MOBILE DEVICES USING INTEGRATIONS WITH MOBILE APPLICATIONS - A method for delivering advertisements to mobile devices includes integrating an ad position within an application executable from a mobile device, wherein the ad position remains substantially constant in a location on a screen of the mobile device as viewed by a user throughout use of the application; including an ad call associated with the ad position; in response to executing the application, causing the ad call to retrieve an advertisement from an ad server; and receiving the advertisement into the ad position by the mobile device for display to the user.

05-14-2009

20090157479

Selection and Shopping System Founded on Mobile Architecture - A selection and shopping system for providing item recommendations from an inventory of items. The method provides search results based on individualized user characteristics by retaining an inventory of items available for purchase, attributing identifying data to each of the inventory of items, obtaining individualized profile data from each of a plurality of users, retaining the individualized profile data from each of the plurality of users, accepting through remote electronic communication a search query from a user device regarding the inventory of items available for purchase, determining a correspondence between items available for purchase and the search query based on the individualized profile data wherein the step of determining a correspondence between Items available for purchase and the search query based on the individualized profile data is powered by a recommendation engine, and providing a search result from the recommendation engine comprising a display on the user device of items from the inventory of items that have a correspondence with the search query and the individualized profile data.

06-18-2009

20090119156

SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROVIDING MARKET ANALYTICS FOR A BRAND - Methods for providing marketing analytics are presented. Information about a brand is extracted from web documents using a search program. The search program learns about how a brand is referenced from the context of one or more web documents having quality, quantity, or entity brand characteristics. After learning about the brand, the program extracts information from additional web documents especially those having the quality, quantity, and entity characteristics. As the program analyzes the documents, it stores the extracted information in a database to build a statically significant data set.

05-07-2009

20090119153

TOOLS AND METHODS FOR BRAND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT - A tool is provided for use in connection with development of a brand essence. The tool includes a plurality of subsets of descriptor cards. Each subset of descriptor cards has a first set of indicia relating to an associated human sense on a first side of each descriptor card and a second set of indicia relating to the associated human sense on a second side of each descriptor card. The subsets of descriptor cards are based on a plurality of theme categories common to each subset. The first set of indicia on each descriptor card includes a theme category, at least one example associated with the theme category and relating to the associated human sense, at least one descriptor associated with each example, and at least one image associated with the example. The second set of indicia on each descriptor card includes the example on the first side of the descriptor card and the image on the first side of the descriptor card.

05-07-2009

20090119151

Online Advertisement Selection - Online advertisement selection techniques are described. In an implementation, data is obtained which describes interaction of one or more clients with television content. At least one online advertisement is selected to be output in conjunction with online content based on the interaction with the television content described in the obtained data.

05-07-2009

20090182621

CONTENT AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL SUPERDISTRIBUTION - Embodiments provide content and advertising material superdistribution. In one embodiment, a method of distributing content and advertising material may be provided. The method may include: registering members who are potential users and distributors of content; receiving, from a first member, an identifier of a second member with whom the first member has a relationship; receiving, from the first member, a selection of content to be distributed to the second member; receiving, from the first member, a selection of advertising material to be associated with the content to be distributed to the second member; and distributing the content and the advertising material to the second member.

07-16-2009

20090182617

Method for Improving Customer Satisfaction - A method for optimizing a process utilized in providing a service to a customer is disclosed in which the series of steps involved in the process are first identified. Each process step is then tracked and the tracked steps are analyzed to determine if the process can be improved.

07-16-2009

20090182615

SELF-SERVE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MAIL MARKETING SERVICE - Technologies are described herein for providing a self-serve direct-to-consumer mail marketing service. A unified mail marketing service is provided through which a user can generate a postal or e-mail mailing without the need to consult multiple independent service providers. The mail marketing service provides a single point of contact for creating demographics, identifying potential customers that satisfy the demographics, creating the mailing, creating and monitoring points of contact to measure the success of the mailing, and for printing and sending the mailing.

07-16-2009

20090182618

System and Method for Word-of-Mouth Advertising - A system and method to facilitate word-of-mouth advertising and sales support associated with displayed media objects on distributed networks is described. The system provides one or more advocates to a network user accessing advertising of a brand, product, or service. One or more of the advocates may be socially related to the user. User interactions with the advocates are facilitated through a real-time communication network, follow-on commercial activity is tracked, and the value of word-of-mouth advocacy is captured and distributed.

07-16-2009

20090132338

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SALES AND MARKETING PRACTICES - A method of identifying whether a first product should be sold or marketed, associated with a predetermined diagnostic, based on the impact of the predetermined diagnostic on one or more other products which are similar to the first product in one or more respect, and where not all the other products have experienced the predetermined diagnostic. The method comprises the following steps: determining one or more marketing factors associated with the product which are potentially influenced by the predetermined diagnostic; determining a scoring scheme associated with the or each marketing factor for deriving a score associated with the first product; comparing the score of the first product with a score associated with the said one or more other products; identifying the one or more other products that have a score within a predetermined threshold of the score for the first product, to identify one or more possible matching other products; and determining whether the one or more possible matching products have experienced the predetermined diagnostic in order to determine whether the first product should be sold or marketed, associated with the predetermined diagnostic.

05-21-2009

20090125380

System and method for location based suggestive selling - A system for providing a location based offer, including: an offer element, in a processor for at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer; and a memory unit for the computer. The offer element: generates, using the processor and a first set of rules or a first artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit, at least one respective offer for an item or service from at least one business entity, the offer for display on a map showing respective locations for the at least one business entity; transmits, according a second set of rules or a second artificial intelligence program stored in the memory unit, the at least one respective offer to a wireless communications device (WCD) for display on a map by the WCD, the map including the respective locations; and receives, from the WCD a selection of an offer from among the at least one respective offer.

05-14-2009

20090187468

Automated replenishment using an economic profit quantity - Prior art methods base inventory management on maximizing cost. The present invention shifts the focus to maximizing economic profit, taking income tax into account. Systems and methods are provided for digitally calculating an economic profit quantity that maximizes economic profit, defined as the excess of net operating income over capital charge, as well as the corresponding values of economic profit and recommended safety stock. Methods are provided for utilizing the economic profit quantity and associated recommended safety stock quantity for automatically placing orders, for choosing among suppliers, and for calculating space requirements.

07-23-2009

20090164301

Targeted Ad System Using Metadata - A method for targeting advertisements selects a first content item that has an associated set of metadata. The associated metadata is for providing information regarding the first content item. The method identifies a first user having a relationship to the first content item. The first user has a set of profile information. The method determines a first metadata element such as, for example, a tag or keyword used by the first user in relation to the first content item. The first metadata element is generated by one or more users of the first content item such as, for example, the first user or a second user. The method selects a first advertisement for presentation to the first user. The selection process uses data associated with one or more of the first content item, the first user, and the first metadata element. Additional embodiments of the invention include a system and a computer readable medium for implementation of the foregoing.

06-25-2009

20090177531

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CATEGORY-BASED CONTEXTUAL ADVERTISEMENT GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT - A computer-implemented system and method for category-based contextual advertisement generation and management are disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertisement processor to allocate a first display region for displaying a combination of variable revenue ads and fixed price ads, the variable revenue ads and the fixed price ads being category-based, sort the variable revenue ads based in part on a user entered variable revenue value, and sort the fixed price ads based on a rotation.

07-09-2009

20090164302

Methods and systems for specifying a cohort-linked avatar attribute - Avatars, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out obtaining collected population cohort data; and specifying at least one cohort-linked avatar attribute at least partly based on the collected population cohort data.

06-25-2009

20090187469

METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DIFFUSION OF SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ON A NETWORK OF AFFILIATED WEB SITES - The method according to the invention consists of dynamically adapting survey questionnaires to the content of the affiliated Web sites of editors and the specific visitors of said sites. It comprises the dynamic selection of the most appropriate questionnaire for a given survey in function of the content of the site of the editor and/or the specific who visits the Web site of the editor and/or the response rate to the questionnaire.

07-23-2009

20090187467

LINGUISTIC EXTRACTION OF TEMPORAL AND LOCATION INFORMATION FOR A RECOMMENDER SYSTEM - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that recommends activities. During operation, the system receives a piece of content obtained from text or converted to text from speech. The system then analyzes the received content to identify any activity type, indication of willingness to participate in any type of activities, and at least one piece of temporal information, which can be implicitly and/or explicitly stated in the content, and/or one piece of location information associated with the activity type. The system further recommends one or more activities, venues, and/or services that afford or support activities for a user based on the information extracted from the content.

OPTION EXCHANGE FOR COMPONENTS - An application runs on a computer system of a computer network operative between a supplier and a customer. The supplier provides components used for manufacturing or resale by the customer. The application includes an interface to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of the supplier and receives as input from the ERP a predicted capacity of the supplier for supplying the components. A computerized exchange is attached to the application. Based on the predicted capacity, the supplier, using the application, issues options on the computerized exchange. The options are for buying the components in the future by the customer. Each option includes: (i) expiration date for exercising the option by the customer, (ii) an strike price for the buying of a specific quantity of the components; and (iii) a lead time for delivery of the specific quantity of the components. The lead time is specified relative to the exercise date. A management module preferably inputs into the application a predicted probability of the exercising by the customer. The computer network, preferably sets an ask price and number of the options issued based on the predicted probability of the exercising.

05-21-2009

20090144128

Communication system and method between a home buyer, seller, strategic business source, and lender - A computerized system and method are presented for exchanging information between a buyer, a seller, a lender, and a strategic business source. The system permits sellers, lenders and strategic business sources to input buyers that are then submitted for activation. The buyers use the system to obtain information about items, while the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources make consistent contact with the buyer in order to work with the buyer. Information about the buyers is shared with the sellers, lenders, and strategic business sources. A business plan is input into the system for the financial institution employing the lender while another business plan is input for the seller institution employing the seller. Activity on the computerized system is calculated for compliance with the business plan. Feedback is provided to management relating to whether the business plan is being met.

06-04-2009

20090144126

RANGE FORECASTING OF DEMAND FOR ORDER CONFIGURATIONS FOR CONFIGURABLE PRODUCTS - A method and system for forecasting demand for order configurations are provided. The method and system, in one aspect, expresses attach rates within a family of n options as a set of n positive numbers that sum to 1. By applying suitable transformations to the attach rates, they are modeled as a random vector in (n−1)-dimensional Euclidean space. The distribution of the transformed attach rates are modeled as a distribution family specified by a location vector and a dispersion matrix. The dispersion matrix is simplified, for example, using historical data or expert judgment or both to identify option families that have dependent demand. Simplifying may also include expressing dependence between options by a simple model that involves few parameters. Location vector is estimated by computing point forecasts of transformed attach rates. The parameters of the dispersion matrix are estimated by calibration on historical data, using the dispersion of the errors in historical point forecasts.

06-04-2009

20090187473

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECRUITING ONLINE - An automated recruitment system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in recruitment and selection of candidates for various activities. For example, predetermined parameters indicative of future performance for a given activity can be identified and collected electronically from candidates through a candidate portal. The collected information can be graded according to one or more of the predetermined parameters, or according to parameters derived from the one or more collected parameters, with results stored in a searchable database. The grading can be used to predict future performance of a candidate in a given activity, or more particularly, for a particular role within the activity (e.g., a baseball pitcher). A recruiter can access stored information through a portal by performing a structured search, using filters (e.g., geography, gender, age, academic performance) to identify one or more target candidates for a given position.

07-23-2009

20080306810

Method, algorithm, and computer program for optimizing the performance of messages including advertisements in an interactive measurable medium - Method, procedure, algorithm, system, and computer program for improving and attempting to optimize the performance of messaging campaigns, particularly to marketing campaigns in which advertisements or other messages are distributed over an interactive measurable medium such as the Internet. A goal is to allocate the message alternatives to the customer population to optimize business objectives. The includes reading prior stage message state data pertaining to a prior stage including a cumulative number of trials and a cumulative number of successes for a particular message. Message performance results representing message trials and message successes from the previous stage based on the prior-stage state are then read, and a current message state is computed. A current message allocation is generated based on the current message state. Desirably the cumulative number of trials and the cumulative number of successes are discounted based on the age of the information. This inventive procedure may be applied to various message types including, for example, web site banner advertisements, electronic advertisements generally, email messages and promotions, and the like. In one embodiment, the messages are internet web site banner ads, trials are impressions of the ads presented to the user, and successes are measured by clickthroughs from the banner ad to the web site associated with the banner ad. Computer system, computer program, and computer program product associated with the inventive method and procedures are also provided.

12-11-2008

20090094099

EVALUATING COMMODITY CONDITIONS USING MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION - Various tools, strategies and techniques are provided for evaluating the condition of commodities in different regions of interest. The evaluation of commodity condition can be facilitated through using multiple information sources and/or one or more likelihood functions associated with the information sources. One or more probability distribution functions may be generated to provide an indication of commodity condition.

04-09-2009

20090094093

SYSTEM FOR SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS - A system for selecting an advertisement for display to a user. The system includes a plurality of web properties and an advertisement engine. Each of the web properties include a web interface that may be customized based on user profile data provided by the user. As such, data may be explicitly associated with the user's profile naturally over time as the user interacts with various web pages and sets user preferences. Upon visiting one of the web properties, the web interface may request an advertisement for the advertisement engine to be displayed to the user. The advertisement engine identifies the user and accesses the user profile data for the identified user stored in each of the web properties. The advertisement engine also accesses advertisement target profile data associated with an advertisement and compares the user profile data to the advertisement target profile data to determine whether to display the advertisement to the user.

04-09-2009

20090210286

METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC OPTIMIZED PRICE DISPLAY - A method of updating prices, includes automatically and continually adjusting prices of goods and services provided by a company through local outlets located across a geographic area, including activating trigger sources, the trigger sources including static and dynamic causes, inputting additional parameters, the parameters including a competitor's name, location, price of an item, a time and date, and an observed popularity of an item, storing the additional parameters in a historical database, making dynamic decisions for adjusting the prices across the local outlets based on the trigger sources and the additional parameters, the making dynamic decisions being based on the trigger sources, the additional parameters, and company selected criteria, which includes revenue targets, market conditions, market forecasts, and historical data, automatically adjusting a price of goods and services provided by the company.

08-20-2009

20090187464

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR END-TO-END RETAIL STORE SITE OPTIMIZATION - A method and apparatus for end-to-end retail store one-stop site configuration integrates multiple data sources, identifying key customers, forecasting merchandise demand. Site configuration is formulated as a mathematical optimization problem with both in-store and external data as input to the problem whose solution provides proper suggestions for retail store transformation.

07-23-2009

20090187460

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME FEEDBACK - An application for a computer system for obtaining feedback at a location of service includes at least one touch screen computer terminal device located at the location of service and software. One computer software module is for authoring a survey, the survey comprising a plurality of survey question with at least one of the survey questions having an answer value configured to trigger a notification signal. Another computer software module presents the survey at the touch screen computer terminal(s) and for obtaining respondent answers to the survey questions and another computer software module monitors the respondent answers and if any of the respondent answers have the answer value configured to trigger the notification signal, the computer software module that monitors the respondent answers triggers the notification signal.

07-23-2009

20090187461

MARKET SEGMENTATION ANALYSES IN VIRTUAL UNIVERSES - This description presents techniques for performing market segmentation analyses in virtual universes. In one embodiment, a method includes collecting virtual universe data associated with interactions between avatars, entities, and objects in a virtual universe. The collecting can include recording at least some of the virtual universe data as the interactions occur, determining a criteria with which to perform a market segmentation analysis on the virtual universe data, where segmentation divides the virtual universe data into a plurality of groups. The method can also include performing the market segmentation analysis on the virtual universe data, and generating a report indicating results of the market segmentation analysis.

07-23-2009

20090187463

Personalized Location-Based Advertisements - Advertising content is selected and provided to a mobile device user based on user location information in combination with user profile information. In one embodiment, user location information and user profile information is provided to an advertisement server over a network connection. An advertisement database lookup operation may then be performed based on current location information for the mobile device, in combination with the aforementioned profile information. The result of this lookup operation is to identify the available advertisements that are most likely to be of interest to the user at the current time.

07-23-2009

20090187472

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PERSONALIZED COSMETIC PRODUCTS - An apparatus and method of manufacturing a personalized cosmetic product, said method comprising, receiving data relating to a person; obtaining a predefined list of items and determining at least one item to be used in manufacturing the personalized cosmetic product according to the data relating to a person. The apparatus containing a computerized device for analyzing the received personalized data according to the list of items.

07-23-2009

20090187466

Location-Based Information-Geo Retail Notification - Sales information corresponding to one or more retailers is collected and stored. A customer/user can access the sales information using a client application running on his mobile device. The access may be responsive to a customer profile that establishes the customer's preferences or tastes. The access may be responsive to detecting that the customer's mobile device is within a threshold distance of one or more matching retailers. The access may be responsive to a customer request to obtain the sales information. One or more reminder notes may be sent to the customer to serve as a reminder that the customer likely needs to acquire a product or service.

07-23-2009

20090144130

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PREDICTING FUTURE DATA - Described herein are methods and systems for predicting data, such as values. A first interface is configured to receive an indication as to how many search queries have been submit that are related to a first item of content. A second interface is configured to receive information related to web traffic associated with the first item of content. A third interface is configured to receive news information correlated with the first item of content. An engine is configured to estimate a value for the first item content at least partly based on information received from the first, second, and/or third interface.

06-04-2009

20090144125

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECONNAISSANCE FOR SPEND MANAGEMENT PROCUREMENT - A system, method and computer program product for providing a procurement solution, including determining a maturity level of a strategic direction, procurement processes, and procurement information technology (IT) landscape of a client; identifying a prescription to a spend management solution product, based on the determined maturity level, procurement processes, and procurement IT landscape of the client; and deploying the spend management solution product for the client based on the identified prescription to the spend management solution product.

06-04-2009

20090144132

Follow-up contacts with virtual world participants - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A participant or player can participate in various virtual world activities including transactions to acquire virtual products, virtual services, and/or virtual items of value. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The participant or player may also have an opportunity of engaging in related real-world activities and transactions. In some implementations, multiple players at different locations can be involved in the virtual world and real-world activities and transactions. Some embodiments include arrangements for real-world informational data to be made available in the virtual world environment to a participant or player, based on virtual world activities related to a topic of interest to a real-world entity.

06-04-2009

20090144123

System and Method of Demand Modeling for Financial Service Products - A computer system is provided which models financial products such as demand deposits and time deposits. The computer system collects transactional data related to a plurality of financial products. The demand model includes an acquisition model, average balance model, and time demand renewable model for predicting customer responses to changes in interest rate based on the transactional data. The demand model evaluates consumer response through account opening, balance variations, and time deposit renewals. The demand model can also predict effects of cannibalization, seasonality, promotions, and time-dependent demand on the financial products. The cannibalization model estimates model parameters by demand group level, categorical level, and multicurrency level. The interest rate is optimized for each of the financial products by utilizing one or more of the acquisition, average balance, time demand renewable, cannibalization, seasonality, promotional, and time-dependent models. The optimized interest rate is exported to a financial institution.

06-04-2009

20090089141

METHODS FOR CROSS-MARKET BRAND ADVERTISING, CONTENT METRIC ANALYSIS, AND PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS - In another embodiment, a computer-implemented method for processing and optimizing selection of placement, of advertising content related to a brand, in websites of a network is provided. The computer-implemented method is processed by a server in response to communication from a user that is connected to the server over the Internet. The method includes receiving from the user, attributes of an advertisement to be placed on a brand-centric website that relates to the brand, and also receiving selections for types of websites to place the advertisement. The types of websites do not have to be brand-centric websites, but should include content related to the brand. Then, the method includes obtaining metrics from selected websites and historical performance for similar advertisements when placed on the selected websites. The method includes processing the obtained metrics and historical performance to preliminarily define an advertising model. The advertising model defines a score correlated to effectiveness of the advertisement. Optimizing the advertising model is then performed to define a recommended advertising model, where the recommended advertising model defines optimal selections of websites for placement of the advertisement. The optimizing uses multivariable optimization to correlate the obtained metrics to a desired optimization criteria.

04-02-2009

20090024454

System and method for evaluating real estate transactions - Evaluating a real estate transaction based on preliminary data about the transaction. An evaluation system employs a transaction evaluator software module that can receive input about a customer and a type of financial product. The transaction evaluator software module also has access to a variety of data sources defining parameters for the investing institution. When the transaction evaluator receives input for a customer, it retrieves the relevant parameters for investing and performs a series of calculations to determine the likelihood that the customer's transaction will be approved. The results of the calculations can be displayed to the user in a graphical format for a range of transaction values. The graphical presentation of the calculations assists the user in determining whether to proceed with the transaction.

PROTOCOL GENERATOR AND PRESENTER DEVICE FOR ANALYSIS OF MARKETING AND ENTERTAINMENT EFFECTIVENESS - A protocol generator and presenter device provides stimuli to a subject to allow analysis of the effectiveness of marketing and entertainment materials. A protocol generator generates presentation parameters such as length of presentation, number of repetitions, number of physiological baselines, etc. The presenter device uses the presentation parameters to elicit responses from a subject that are then measured and analyzed using multiple neurophysiological modalities. Feedback is provided to the protocol generator and presenter device to dynamically update presentation parameters.

Building market models - A trend of attributes associated with plural market participants is determined. A representation of the trend is computed, and market models for the market participants are built according to the representation of the trend.

01-22-2009

20090024450

LOST SALES DETECTION AND ESTIMATION USING RETAIL STORE DATA - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for detecting and estimating lost sales. A demand distribution for a product provided by a retail presence is determined. A probability of a lost sales occurrence is evaluated, including determining a predetermined time period and a probability of no sales over the predetermined time period. A determination of whether no sales have occurred over a time period corresponding in length to the predetermined time period is made. If the probability of no sales is below a threshold, an estimate of lost sales is determined.

01-22-2009

20090210293

INFORMATION TRANSACTIONS OVER A NETWORK - In one example, a method for managing information in an environment that includes a client device includes accessing, at the client device, an electronic input interface. Next, the client device transmits a signal to a host system associated with the electronic input interface by entering consumer profile information into the electronic input interface. A request is then made for creation of an information account for storage of the consumer profile information. The client device then receives authentication information from the host system. Finally, the client device enables the vendor to access some of the consumer profile information stored in the information account.

08-20-2009

20080215419

METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR IMPLEMENTING A MULTI-STAGE, MULTI-CLASSIFICATION SALES OPPORTUNITY MODELING SYSTEM - A method for implementing a multi-stage, multi-classification sales opportunity modeling system. The method includes receiving operational data relating to past sales activities and receiving parameters identified as being relevant in determining a likelihood of whether exploitation of a sales opportunity will be successful. The method also includes generating a multi-stage model by applying the operational data and the parameters to an analytic engine for evaluating different factors affecting success of the sales opportunity.

09-04-2008

20090030776

SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OFFERS USING A BILLING STATEMENT - A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, the offer pointer is a telephone number printed adjacent to a description of a transaction on a credit card billing statement. The telephone number accesses a voice response system presenting conditional branches through which a consumer can navigate to review an offer. In another example, a hyperlink is positioned adjacent to a total amount owed listed on an electronically-displayed billing statement. The hyperlink may be selected to access a website presenting offers for review by the consumer. The offers reviewed in each of these examples may be customized based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data.

01-29-2009

20090083126

Methods and Apparatus for Modeling Relationships at Multiple Scales in Ratings Estimation - Systems and techniques for generating item ratings for a user in order to allow for recommendations of selected items for that user. A set of known ratings of different items for a plurality of users is collected and maintained, and these known ratings are used to estimate rating factors influencing ratings, including user and item factors. Initial user and item factors are estimated and new user and item factors are successively added, with the original rating factors being progressively shrunk so as to reduce their magnitude and their contribution to the rating estimation as successive factors are added. When an appropriate number of user and item factors has been estimated, the rating factors are used to estimate ratings of items for a user, and the estimated ratings are employed to generate recommendations for that user.

PREDICTED VARIABLE ANALYSIS BASED ON EVALUATION VARIABLES RELATING TO SITE SELECTION - Systems, methods and computer readable media that assist in evaluating the likelihood of success of a new business location. Information about existing business locations may be provided, which includes information about a predicted variable. Data may be collected from either third-party providers, publically available information, or the user that will represent the evaluation variables. A formula is generated that comprises evaluation variables and associated coefficients. The coefficients are determined based on a correlation between the evaluation variables and the predicted variable. Data is collected for a new business location or region in order to determine the value of the evaluation variables for the new business location or region. By applying the coefficients to the evaluation variable values for the new business location or region, an output value of the predicted variable is provided. The output value of the predicted variable may be used to evaluate the likelihood of success of the new business location or region.

03-26-2009

20090083117

MATCHING PARTICIPANTS IN A P2P RECOMMENDATION NETWORK LOOSELY COUPLED TO A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - A system and method are provided for matching participants in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) recommendation network that is loosely coupled to a subscription music service. In general, the system includes a central server and a number of peer devices. For each of the peer devices, an associated user is either a subscriber to the subscription music service or a non-subscriber. When a user of a peer device desires to identify new friends with which to exchange recommendations in the P2P recommendation network, a friend recommendation function of the central server identifies new friends for the user of the peer device based on the user's status as either a subscriber or a non-subscriber to the subscription music service.

03-26-2009

20090198571

RELATED PRODUCT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Computer-implemented systems and methods for automatically creating a second customized product design incorporating information from a first customized product design. Information from a first custom product design is automatically combined with additional automatically selected content to create a new custom product to be promoted to the customer. When possible, information known about the customer, such as the customer's geographic location or business interests, is used to select the additional content for incorporation into the design.

08-06-2009

20090198563

METHOD FOR PRESENTING PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION ON A WEB PAGE - A method for presenting supplemental promotional information on a web page includes: a) providing a shopping website that includes product web pages corresponding respectively to products; b) storing browsing activity information of a user with respect to the product web pages as a history log; c) analyzing the history log to calculate product interest parameters, each indicating interest of the user in a respective one of the products; d) storing the product interest parameters of the products; e) in response to intent of the user to browse one of the product web pages, retrieving the corresponding product interest parameter; and f) if the retrieved product interest parameter satisfies a condition, integrating supplemental promotional information giving details of the corresponding product into the browsed product web page.

08-06-2009

20090198562

GENERATING SOCIAL GRAPH USING MARKET DATA - A social graph may be generated using a system and method to: identify a focal user, the focal user associated with a transaction; determine a related user associated with the transaction, the related user having a buyer-seller relationship with the focal user; and present the focal user and the related user using a multi-node graph, the multi-node graph including a first node and a second node representing the focal user and the related user, respectively, and a first connector representing the buyer-seller relationship linking the first and second nodes, the first connector being presented with meta-data describing a characteristic of the buyer-seller relationship. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

08-06-2009

20090063253

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTIVE MARKETING USING NETWORKED DEVICES - An interactive marketing technique may include distributing an electronic marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Each time an electronic device shares the marketing item, location information is collected to determine where sharing of the marketing item is active.

SURVEY FRAUD DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of filtering fraudulent responses from survey data including responses to survey questions received from survey takers and a response time for each response. For each question, any responses to the question having a response time less than a minimum time required to provide a thoughtful response are filtered from the survey data. Optionally, for each survey taker, a number of responses filtered from the survey data is determined. If this number exceeds a threshold, all responses provided by the survey taker are filtered from the survey data. The method may determine whether responses provided by each survey taker to attributes of a matrix question include a pattern. If a survey taker's responses include the pattern and were provided in less than the minimum time required to provide a thoughtful response to the matrix question, all responses provided by the survey taker are filtered from the survey data.

02-26-2009

20090055248

METHOD OF ADMINISTERING A SEARCH ENGINE WITH A MARKETING COMPONENT - A computer system capable of administering a search engine program with a marketing component, which includes at least one client device operatively connected to a host server through a communication network to communicate data between the client device and the host server. The marketing component includes free or discounted access to an application program that provides various services in exchange for the user's agreement to use the search engine program as a primary search engine. The search engine is free of advertisements, except for paid placement listings.

02-26-2009

20090055242

CONTENT IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Embodiments herein relate market entities, market topics, and market relationships in a market relationship module (MRM). The MRM is used to index individually relevant information content and to formulate queries for later retrieval and presentation of the relevant content. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

02-26-2009

20090055247

System and method for classification of beverages - A system and method are provided to present a rating system for each perceived characteristic within a beverage. The system and method accurately records the input of multiple consumers to produce a prediction model representative of the perceived characteristics of a beverage. Using the prediction model, beverage characteristics may be compared and contrasted by the user.

02-26-2009

20090083116

HEAVY INFLUENCER MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS - A system and method for providing media recommendations, such as music recommendations, based on information identifying media recently played by a select group of heavy influencers for a subscription fee are provided. The group of heavy influencers may be a group of one or more celebrities or other persons whose media selections may heavily influence media selections of the users of the system.

03-26-2009

20090083118

SEGMENTED MOTIVATION PROFILES - A method of developing a motivation to motivate participants associated with a program-owner. The reward types of a motivation profile are defined and the participants' preferences are collected through a survey. The collected participants' preferences are modeled to determine segments of participants with similar reward preferences. An optimal motivation profile consisting of the participants' preferred reward types is generated from the modeled data and presented to the program owner in a detailed report. Additionally, a motivation profile simulator for simulating the participants' preference to a proposed motivation profile and a segmentation tool for displaying the characteristics of each segment is generated.

03-26-2009

20090083130

Data Distribution Method and System - A method for distributing data among automotive dealers, including selecting the data from the dealers, processing the data, and providing the processed data to the dealers while maintaining confidentiality of individual data of each dealer. The selecting of the data further includes collecting data indicating which vehicles are in demand. The data includes at least one of a number of a vehicle's make a dealer has in stock, a vehicle identification number, a vehicle's year, a vehicle's make, a vehicle's model, a vehicle's body style, a vehicle's exterior color, a vehicle's interior color, a vehicle's mileage, a vehicle's retail asking price, a vehicle's transactions cost, a vehicle's reconditioning cost, a vehicle's age, a vehicle's selling price, a vehicle's gross profit, an acquisition need of a vehicle, a selling need of a vehicle, a vehicle's image, a vehicle's turnover rate, or an aggregate of any of the above-listed data. The distributed data may provide optimization on return on investments to the dealers.

03-26-2009

20090083127

ANALYSIS APPARATUS, PROGRAM AND ANALYSIS METHOD - An analysis apparatus includes a needs relation definition unit to receive input of relation among needs for a product, worth to satisfy the needs and values of selection items for selecting the worth through an input unit and a needs estimation unit to prepare a questionnaire which receives selection of selection order for combination of inputted needs and selection of values for judging to be satisfactory and dissatisfactory for inputted worth and calculate strength of the needs from totalized result of the questionnaire.

03-26-2009

20090240570

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION CONCERNING PRODUCTS OR SERVICES BY CORRELATION WITH SETS OF RULES - A device (D) is dedicated to the analysis of information concerning products and services. Said device (D) comprises analysis tools (MA) intended, in the event of reception of an identifier representing a product or service, to access a first set of data to identify such a product or service among them, as a function of the identifier received, then to access at least one source of information (SI) in order to research information therein about the identified product or service, then to determine from among the information thus researched whether the identified product or service satisfies a chosen set of at least one rule, and to deliver a message indicating at least the result of such determination.

09-24-2009

20090037251

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY DISTRIBUTING SALES INFORMATION TO A SELECTED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS - A method is provided for electronically distributing sales information to selected individuals from a group, each individual in the group having a communication device that is connected to a communication network. The individuals are selected from a database having a plurality of records representing the individuals in the group, each record representing a specific individual and including identification, interest, and location information, and maximum travel distance. The method includes the steps of (a) providing geographical location information of a specific store and calculating the distance between the specific store and each of the individuals in the group, (b) selecting individuals from the group if the distance between the specific store and the individual is less than the maximum distance and based on the interest information, and (c) transmitting the sales information via the communication network to the communication devices of the selected individuals.

02-05-2009

20090132350

Idea Management - A system, method and computer program product for idea management and development of a structured idea. The methodology includes obtaining a structured response over a computer network from an employee of a business. In certain embodiments of the invention the system and method may be employed without the use of a computer network. The structured response is developed through a series of templates in which the employee enters information into a template. From the responses in the first template a second template is selected. The second template may request information regarding the financial consequences of implementing the idea. Once the structured idea is developed through the series of templates a routing decision is made by the server. The server determines one or more members of the business management to whom the idea is routed based in part on information entered by the employee in the templates.

05-21-2009

20090132349

Targeted-demographic rich-media content, branding, and syndicated user-node distribution - A rich-media content and branding method and system enable interactive creation of an exciting environment in which branded advertising subtly influences consumers who are enjoying a high-quality, entertaining, rich-media experience. Embedded rich-media players are bordered by branding information such as identification of source and e-mail click-on buttons to facilitate communications between sponsors and consumers, contributions by consumers to the sponsors' digital storehouse, and to facilitate viral exposure of content and brands to prospective consumers through on-line social interaction and networking at widely distributed and varietal user nodes, e.g. cell phones, PDAs, notebook computers, desktop computers, television (TV) set-top adapters, etc.

05-21-2009

20090132345

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING RELEVANT MATCHES BASED ON ATTRIBUTES - A method and system are disclosed for generating content relevant to at least one participant based on data associated with the at least one participant. Profile data and behavior data may be captured in a database for the at least one participant. A processor may be employed to determine matches between the at least one participant and information including products, services, companies, persons and/or other data based on a set of criteria defined from the profile and behavior data of the at least one participant and attributes associated with each item of information.

05-21-2009

20090132343

System And Method For Product Level Projections Of Pharmacy Prescriptions Within Product Therapy Classes - Systems and methods for product level projections of pharmacy prescriptions within product therapy classes are provided. Average wholesale dollar sales amounts are obtained or estimated at channel/outlet/product-therapy levels. All of the average wholesale dollar sales amounts are converted to prescription data at channel/outlet/product-therapy levels using a correlation function. The correlation function is derived by correlating samples of total prescription data where available with corresponding average wholesale dollar sales amounts.

05-21-2009

20090132341

Method and System for Monetizing User-Generated Content - An e-commerce system, comprising a shopping cart executing on a network-connected server, product information available at the shopping cart, and software executing on the server for interacting with user-generated content associated with a first user, is disclosed. In the system, the software provides product information and code related to a specific product to the user-generated content in a form compatible with the user-generated content, such that upon the code being activated in the user-generated content by a second user, the second user is connected to the shopping cart at the server, and enabled to buy the product.

05-21-2009

20090132337

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF PERSONALIZED THERAPY - A method of comparing a first brand with one or more second brands by identifying a differentiation factor between the first and second brands, the method comprising the following steps. The first step entails identifying a plurality of elements which can differentiate between one brand and another. Secondly, a consensus score is determined with respect to the first brand and the or each second brand based on the plurality of elements. Next, the consensus score of the first brand is compared with the or each second brand in order to identify elements for which the first brand has a substantially equal or higher score than the or each second brand. Finally, the identified elements for which the first brand has a substantially equal or higher score than the or each second brand are displayed in a visual manner to enable identification of key marketing criteria which can position the first brand relative to the or each second brand.

05-21-2009

20090132334

System and Method for Estimating an Amount of Traffic Associated with a Digital Advertisement - Systems and methods for estimating an amount of traffic associated with a digital ad are disclosed. Generally, a forecasting module identifies a set of candidate webpages on which a digital ad may be displayed and estimates a click through rate associated with the digital ad and a webpage of the set of candidate webpages. The forecasting module determines a ranking score associated with the digital ad based on the determined click through rate and a bid price associated with the digital ad. The forecasting module then examines historical data, such as search logs, to determine an estimate of traffic associated with the digital ad with respect to the webpage in response to determining the ranking score of the digital ad exceeds a ranking score associated with another digital ad that was previously displayed on the webpage.

05-21-2009

20090204479

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN IN-STORE MEDIA NETWORK USING TRADITIONAL MEDIA METRICS - A system and method for selling advertising may include operating an electronic display network operating in a retail store. The network may include electronic displays interspersed among product displays and arranged to present a shopper with each advertisement among multiple repeating advertisements a predicted number of multiple times as a function of shopper metrics and a configuration of the electronic display network during a shopping trip in the retail store. Airtime may be sold to an advertiser for an advertisement to be displayed on the electronic display network.

08-13-2009

20080262899

System for concurrent optimization of business economics and customer value - A computer-implemented system and method to provide options on products to enhance customers' experience. A computer-implemented system is operated that delivers to a customer an option to utilize up to n of m selected products, where m and n are whole numbers and n is less than or equal to m. Information is recorded in a data store, pertaining to said option. In addition, a system is operated to define each of the n chosen products, whereby after each of the n chosen products is defined, the customer can utilize said chosen product. The information pertaining to said defined products is recorded in a data store.

10-23-2008

20080262897

System and method for geographic location of customer services - A system and method for identifying potential customers for communications services. A latitude and longitude associated with an address of a potential customer is identified. The availability of the communications services are indicated based on the latitude and longitude. An availability map and services offers are displayed to the potential customer. A communication service is added for the potential customer.

10-23-2008

20090012847

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION CONTENT - Systems and computer-implemented methods provide for assessing effectiveness of communication content. Methods involve receiving a playlist and schedule implemented to eliminate at least some confounds from experimental data, distributing communication content, displaying the communication content according to the playlist and schedule, and collecting data relating to effectiveness of the communication content. Methods also involve providing rules for displaying the communication content implemented to eliminate at least some carryover effects, displaying the communication content according to the rules, and collecting data relating to effectiveness of the communication content.

01-08-2009

20090216609

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY BASED CATALOGS AND/OR COMMUNITY BASED ON-LINE SERVICES - A buying community is established by discerning customers having the same or similar business types. The business type of a customer may be discerned from a corporate, business, or other entity name that is associated with the customer. Once a buying community is established, behaviors of customers within that buying community are discerned. These behaviors may include product purchasing behaviors, on-line navigation behaviors, on-line searching behaviors, etc. The discerned behaviors of the customers within the buying community may then be used to provide catalogs customized for those members and/or on-line services customized for those members.

08-27-2009

20090216621

Media Based Entertainment Service - A media based entertainment service provides user requested media to a user. Video, audio, images and other media may be provided to a user for a fee or free of charge. The media may be provided from the service provider to a client device over a network. When providing media without charge, the media service can incorporate one or more ads into the media. The ads may be targeted to the user, media content, and other features using advertisement parameters. The media service provides for revenue generation associated with the viewing of media files. The media service can generate revenue from advertising, pay-per-view, e-commerce, and other financial transactions associated with the media service while focusing on providing the service on user preferences.

08-27-2009

20090210291

MONTETIZING SOCIAL WEBSITE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for monetizing social websites is described. As an example, a Monetizing Social Website System and Methods comprises the website address “ibidonyou.com.” Ibidonyou.com represents the next generation in monetizing social websites. It necessitates multiple advertisements per member page, as well as multiple ad clicks per individual member by virtue of its networking model, where members ‘bid’ on connections with credits earned from ad placements and clicks on ads. It also offers an incentive to use the credits at advertisers' online stores, furthering ibidonyou.com income from ad placement. More particularly, ibidonyou.com is a social network site where an “Agent” gains friends by bidding on them while further providing the ability to earn credits which have cash value.

08-20-2009

20090216606

PERVASIVE SYMBIOTIC ADVERTISING SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREFOR - An advertising system and methods, including an ad service that one of generates, presents and receives information pertaining to an ad presentation, an ad presentation output device that outputs the ad presentation at a presentation location, a user response receiver at the ad service that receives a user response transmitted from a mobile device based on the ad presentation at the presentation location, an ad service transmitter that transmits an executable object to a target device specified in the user response, wherein the target device includes a memory and a processor for executing the executable object to provide a service to the user on the target device, wherein the service is modified based on information one of accessed and determined by the executable object on the target device.

08-27-2009

20090204473

CUSTOMIZED HEALTH BEVERAGE SYSTEM - A system and method for providing a customized health beverage system based on the preferences of a consumer. The customized health beverage system provides a flavor component list identifying a number of flavor components. The customized health beverage system also provides a health component list identifying a number of health components. The consumer is presented the flavor and health component list. The method includes a step of receiving from the consumer a customized health beverage preference based on the consumer's selection of health and flavor components from the health and flavor component lists. The consumer is provided the selected flavor and health components selected.

08-13-2009

20090204472

Method and System for Managing Customer Relations - A method and system for managing customer relations by collaborating information for a group of various businesses with different or similar interests or that are complementary to one another. The businesses may even be in competition with one another. The system enables leveraging the overall information in a data collecting system, in order to increase profit and improve customer services, with an emphasis or the users' privacy. The system operates by dispensing, redeeming and documenting vouchers and information regarding total sales in real time via mobile communications.

08-13-2009

20090106089

CONTENT SELECTION USING PERIODICALLY CHANGING INFORMATION - A method of providing electronic content to an electronic device by determining that an electronic device meets a proximity threshold with respect to a location. Electronic content is selected based upon periodically changing information about the location or based on one or more probable demographics of people present at the location determined by the periodically changing information about the location. The selected electronic content is then transmitted to the electronic device.

04-23-2009

20090106088

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STORING AND ACCESSING PERSONAL INFORMATION - Basic personal data of an individual is stored as different data files based on content or intended use. The selection of personal data for inclusion in a data file may be performed in accordance with service provider requests or by the end user, preferably with the assistance of templates. Each data file is assigned a unique identifier and is preferably stored in a network server (or, alternatively, in the user's mobile device). The data files may be organized into groups according to content or intended use. For each of the stored files, a graphical symbol is stored in the user's mobile device. When displayed to the user, the symbol preferably resembles a card. Moreover, each group of data files is preferably displayed as a pack of cards. In this manner, the organization of the cards is such that the user can easily select a card needed to obtain a service.

04-23-2009

20090204474

Method And System For Presenting Targeted Advertisements - A system and method may add to a web page a similar-content module which may contain information related to the context of the web page, may look like a portion of the web page, and may lead to a jump page which presents information in the similar-content module in more detail and contains an advertiser's advertisement or a link to an advertiser's web page. If a user is interested in the information in the similar-content module, he may click on the module and be sent to the jump page. Displaying the similar-content module will not cost any advertiser anything. A pay per impression advertiser will not be charged until its advertisement is displayed on the jump page, and a pay per click advertiser will not be charged until its link in the jump page is clicked on.

08-13-2009

20090204480

System for Providing Businesses with Intelligence about Lost Sales - A system that makes it possible for a maker, distributor, or vendor of a product to survey those who purchase a competing product, allowing them to determine why they lost that sale. An auction system for determining which questions are posed to a purchaser is also disclosed.

08-13-2009

20090204483

REFERENCE PRICE FRAMEWORK - A method of computer-assisted price modeling is provided, which uses a reference price to assist in evaluating discretionary pricing of transactional services provided (i) by a professional among his own transactions or (ii) by a target professional among others' transactions. A universe of pricing episode data is segmented into groupings based on price predictive parameters. These data are then arranged in each grouping according to price. A reference price is determined within each grouping based on a predetermined level, rank or percentile. This reference price can then be used to evaluate the pricing episode data and provide various calculations or comparisons, including the revenue opportunity that could have been obtained by pricing at the reference price.

08-13-2009

20090204482

System and method for streamlining social media marketing - A method and system for streamlining social media marketing continuous activities are provided for finding Potential Friends (PFs) on various social media avenues, gathering information about PFs' interests and activities on an going basis, creating attractive presences (APs) on various social media sites, befriending with PFs to turn them in Actual Friends (AFs), conversing with AFs to foster the relationship with them, creating Social Campaigns (SCs) to promote Desired Items (DIs), running SCs with the help of AFs, and measuring results of SCs and overall progress.

08-13-2009

20090204476

DETERMINING EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - An identifier associated with a client machine is accessed, and parameters that define a control group of client machines for a particular advertising campaign are accessed. The advertising campaign is associated with one or more standard advertisements. Whether the client machine is a member of the control group based on the identifier associated with the client machine and the parameters that define the control group is determined. If the determination of whether the client machine is a member of the control group indicates that the client machine is a member of the control group, a control advertisement is caused to be presented on the client machine. The control advertisement is an advertisement not associated with the advertising campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT SPACE ALLOCATION - A user utility function is implemented in allocating advertisement space to one or more potential advertisers. The user utility function allows advertisement space to be allocated based upon, among other things, the expected utility or usefulness that a proposed advertisement will have to a user. The user utility function, for example, compares proposed advertisements to historical user actions to generate respective user utility values for advertisements (e.g., based upon user responses to advertisements for particular types of product, responses to advertisements from particular types of sellers, etc.). The user utility values can then be applied to bids submitted by advertisers for advertisement space for particular advertisements to obtain modified bids. The modified bids thus reflect, among other things, the expected utility of an advertisement to a user, and thus allow an advertisement host to allocate advertisement space accordingly.

08-20-2009

20090210288

METHOD FOR GENERATING FORECASTING LANDSCAPES - A method of generating an aggregated forecasting landscape for a particular advertiser's bidded term constructs standardized forecasting landscapes for each marketplace, rescales, by the advertiser's clickability in the respective marketplace, each of the standardized landscapes corresponding to the previous appearance of the advertiser's ad in that marketplace and whose appearance was attributed to the bidded term, and adds together the rescaled landscapes, thereby giving the advertiser a more accurate representation of how many total clicks he can expect for his advertisement as a function of how much he is willing/able to pay. In particular, estimation variance is reduced by introducing rank into the construction of the standardized landscapes, which increases the accuracy of the calculations.

08-20-2009

20090210289

Pre-Linguistic Product Evaluation Techniques - Pre-linguistic product evaluation techniques are described. In an implementation, a pre-linguistic evaluation is obtained of one or more products and two or more anchor products, respectively, in which the two or more anchor products exhibit an intended design behavior of the one or more products. A linguistic basis is then collected for the pre-linguistic evaluation of the one or more products after the pre-linguistic evaluation is performed.

08-20-2009

20090204481

Discovery and Analytics for Episodic Downloaded Media - Matching advertising information to media content/user combinations in which information and content are delivered to a user over a network is disclosed. Content providers and advertisers may find out about the offerings of one another as well as user profiles and preferences thereby facilitating agreement of ads with content and users. Viral syndication is also facilitated by allowing the user to share downloaded media with friends and associates. Users may bookmark, share, and/or request/find more content with similarities to the downloaded content with various analytics being reported with respect to the same.

08-13-2009

20080300966

INTEGRATED INTERVIEWING AND CAPTURE PROCESS - One embodiment relates to a method or process for structuring and operating an integrated interviewing and capture process including providing a produced recording of the interview. In one embodiment, the process includes collecting data from the subject, customizing the interview questions, managing employee availability and selecting an interviewer, conducting the interview, capturing the interview in a recorded format, editing the captured interview, producing a recording of the edited interview, soliciting and collecting feedback and revising the interview questions. In one embodiment, the process includes an integrated interviewing, capture and delivery process for operating an entire interviewing business in a highly efficient and cost effective manner.

12-04-2008

20090164306

System and method for developing sales content - A system and method of developing sales information for use in a buyer-seller environment is directed to providing one or more qualifiers which relate to a sales offering; determining value criteria, for each qualifier, to identify potential value of the sales offering; determining ideal buying criteria based on a competitive analysis; and developing the sales information from the value and buying criteria. The sales information, which can be a letter of understanding (LOU) or a buyer needs assessment, can be stored on a server and updated and accessed by one or more sellers. The updating can be an iterative process that is responsive to feedback about the sales information.

06-25-2009

20090198570

METHODOLOGIES AND ANALYTICS TOOLS FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL LICENSEE MARKETS - A method is disclosed for use with at least one initial document describing a technical concept suitable for licensing, the method comprising: retrieving a set of intellectual property documents from a data warehouse; partitioning the set of intellectual property documents into a plurality of document categories; classifying the set of intellectual property documents by an industry parameter; constructing a contingency table that includes a listing of industry classifications for each of the document categories, and identifying documents within a particular one of the document categories that have different industry classifications so as to identify at least one potential new licensee industry of the technical concept described in the initial document.

08-06-2009

20090198569

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING ADVERTISEMENTS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller to determine a behavioral profile of an end user from packet traffic generated by activities of the end user, and share the behavioral profile with a network element for distributing targeted advertisements to the end user according to the behavioral profile. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

08-06-2009

20090198565

IDEA COLLABORATION SYSTEM - An idea collaboration system includes an innovation market that accepts and displays user-submitted ideas; a discussion section that allows registered users to comment on and ranking ideas; and an idea merit section that displays an indication of merit for the ideas. The indication of merit for each idea is based on at least: (i) a number of different registered users who have submitted comments for the idea; (ii) a determination of user interest for the idea; and (iii) a reputation rank for registered users who provided a positive ranking for the idea.

08-06-2009

20090198567

Method of adaptive browsing for digital content - Providing adaptive visual browsing of digital content may be accomplished by presenting a scrolling ticker on a display for browsing of digital content available for viewing by a user of a processing system, the ticker having a plurality of items, each item including an image representing at least one of a content title and a content service provider; receiving a user input selection from a remote control device operated by the user, the user input selection selecting one of the ticker items to indicate the user's interest in the selected item; and changing at least one of the items in the ticker to another item in response to the user input selection, wherein the other item has metatags similar to or related to metatags of the selected item.

08-06-2009

20090198566

Universal Targeted Blogging System - A blogging system comprising a browsing page having a filtering system displayed in a first portion of a window, a list of hits in a second portion of the window, and a hits list filter in a third portion of the window, wherein a ranking threshold may be set by the user or operator to display a list of hits ranked above the threshold. Members may also vote for articles posted on the blogging system, which automatically updates the ranking system. The blogging system also provides a method of advertising and conducting surveys. A unique system for reporting violations on the personal blogging system is also disclosed.

08-06-2009

20090198564

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INTERACTIVE CONSUMER MARKETING - A system and method of interactive consumer marketing, wherein a plurality of marketing channels are specifically and directly focused upon particular goods or services of a sponsor for a specific time period, wherein interactive engagement of a plurality of potential consumers necessarily results therefrom and wherein further dialog, broadcast and otherwise, maximizes results and return on costs, with a singular and short-term commitment.

08-06-2009

20090198561

Self learning method and system for managing agreements to purchase goods over time - A system for managing a purchase agreement, including: a memory element for at least one specially-programmed general purpose computer for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP) and a purchase agreement between a customer and at least one business entity, the purchase agreement including at least one requirement regarding at least one retail transaction between the customer and the business entity; a processor in the specially-programmed general purpose computer for: compiling a purchasing history for the customer with respect to the business entity and the purchase agreement, the memory element for storing the purchasing history, and modifying, using the purchasing history and the AIP, the at least one requirement to increase revenue or profitability of the business entity; and an interface element in the specially-programmed general purpose computer for transmitting the modified at least one requirement for presentation to the customer.

08-06-2009

20090198560

GRAPHICAL SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE RELATIVE ATTRACTIVENESS OF INVESTMENTS - A system for scoring and evaluating financial investments including a server accessible by at least one client, a database including a plurality of financial indicators for a plurality of investments, software executing on the server for generating a score for each of at least a portion of the financial indicators for a target investment relative to a reference set of the investments, software for determining a comparison set including at least one of the plurality investments, software for generating a score for the portion of the financial indicators for the comparison set relative to the reference set, software for generating a display of the scores for the target investment, wherein the display includes a chart including an axis extending radially from a point for each of the portion of the financial indicators, wherein each of the scores is plotted along one of the axes.

08-06-2009

20090198559

MULTI-RESOLUTIONAL FORECASTING SYSTEM - Traffic to a selected network resource, such as a Web site, is forecast using a forecasting model that is based upon a selected resolution. The resolution can be a year, month, season, week, day of the week, an annual day-long event, or any other repetitive time interval for which data can be collected. Historical traffic data for the resolution of interest is retrieved from a database, and the selected forecasting model is applied to the retrieved data to produce a forecast.

08-06-2009

20090198558

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDING JOBSEEKERS TO RECRUITERS - A method of establishing affinities among jobseekers is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring jobseeker activity on a web site. The jobseekers are correlated by a job ID based on jobs for which a jobseeker applies or views. A list of job IDs is sorted, with corresponding jobseekers IDs of jobseekers who have applied for or viewed a job among the list of job IDs converted to integers and grouped by job ID. An affinity is determined among jobseekers in groups according to a formula and jobseekers having an affinity with another jobseeker greater than a predetermined value are displayed to a recruiter.

08-06-2009

20090198557

TIMING COMMERCIAL OFFERS BASED ON LONG-TERM USER DATA - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that times commercial offers made to a user. During operation, the system starts by receiving financial history data for the user, wherein the financial history data includes purchase records for a set of purchases. The system then identifies a subset of purchases in the set of purchases, wherein the subset of purchases are semantically linked to a set of predetermined subjects. Next, the system identifies timing patterns in the subset of purchases based on timing information associated with the subset of purchases. The system then presents one or more commercial offers to the user at specific times based on the identified timing patterns.

08-06-2009

20090198556

System and process for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising - A process for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising from a plurality of competitive and non-competitive advertisements includes the steps of generating a selection model based on product data and user-specific data, generating a user model using the user-specific data and selecting non-competitive personalized electronic advertising from the plurality of advertisements using the selection model and user model to identify relevant advertisements and using a rule set for identifying advertisements not competitive to the specific retailer. An arrangement for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising from a plurality of competitive and non-competitive advertisements includes memory for storing at least one selection model and at least one user model and a controller that selects non-competitive personalized electronic advertising from the plurality of advertisements using the selection model and user model to identify relevant advertisements and using a rule set for identifying advertisements not competitive to the specific retailer.

08-06-2009

20090198555

System and process for providing cooperative electronic advertising - A process for providing cooperative electronic advertising includes the steps of generating a user model associated with an originating retailer, receiving requests to advertise products sold by originating retailers, identifying products by applying advertisement-specific selection models to the user model to identify which of the products is relevant and communicating an advertisement for the products to the user such that the user receives a communication that appears to have been sent by the originating retailer. An arrangement for the same includes memory for storing a user model and advertisement-specific selection models and a controller that receives requests to advertise products sold by originating retailers, identifies products by applying the advertisement-specific selection models to the user model to identify which products are relevant and communicates an advertisement for the products to the user such that the user receives a communication that appears to have been sent by the originating retailer.

08-06-2009

20090198554

System and process for identifying users for which non-competitive advertisements is relevant - A process for identifying a subset of users for which a non-competitive advertisement is relevant includes the steps of generating a plurality of user models including user-specific data, identifying a subset of the plurality of user models by applying an advertisement-specific selection model to identify users for which a specific advertisement is relevant and applying a non-competitive rule set to the identified user models to identify which user models are associated with one or more non-competitive originating retailers. An arrangement for the same includes memory for storing user-specific data and a controller that generates user models using the user-specific data, identifies a subset of the user models by applying an advertisement-specific selection model to the user models to identify users for which the specific advertisement is relevant and applies a non-competitive rule set to the identified subset of user models to identify which user models are associated with one or more non-competitive originating retailers.

08-06-2009

20090198553

System and process for generating a user model for use in providing personalized advertisements to retail customers - A process for generating a user model to be used in providing personalized advertisements to a specific user includes the steps of collecting user-specific data while the specific user is interacting with any of a plurality of retailers. The process further includes generating a user model for the specific user utilizing the user-specific data and using the model to generate a personalized advertisement for presentation to the user. An arrangement for generating a user model to be used in providing personalized advertisements to a specific user includes memory for storing user-specific data collected from user interactions with any of a plurality of retailers and a controller that generates a user model for the specific user utilizing the user-specific data and uses the model to generate a personalized advertisement for presentation to one of the users for which user-specific data has been collected.

08-06-2009

20090198552

System and process for identifying users for which cooperative electronic advertising is relevant - A process for identifying a subset of users for which a cooperative electronic advertising is relevant includes the steps of generating user models associated with originating retailers, receiving a request to advertise products related to products sold by the retailers, identifying user models by applying an advertisement specific selection model and communicating the advertising to the identified users such that each user receives a communication apparently sent by the originating retailer. An arrangement for the same includes memory for storing user models associated with originating retailers and an advertisement specific selection model and a controller that receives a request to advertise products related to products which are sold by the retailers, identifies user models by applying an advertisement specific selection model and communicates the specific electronic advertising to the identified users such that each user receives a communication apparently sent by the originating retailer associated with each user model.

08-06-2009

20090198551

System and process for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising for electronic display - A process of selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising from a plurality of competitive and non-competitive advertisements for electronic display including the steps of generating a selection model, generating a user model, selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising from the plurality of advertisements using the selection model and user model to identify relevant advertisements and using a rule set for identifying non-competitive advertisements and providing in an electronic format identified relevant and non-competitive advertisements. An arrangement for the same includes memory for storing a selection model and a user and a controller that selects personalized non-competitive electronic advertising from the plurality of advertisements using the selection model and user model to identify relevant advertisements and using a rule set for identifying non-competitive advertisements. The process and arrangement provide the advertisements in an electronic format affiliated with an originating retailer, where such originating retailer is not among the one or more retailers.

08-06-2009

20080228555

Graphical user interface for presenting image evaluation information - A method is disclosed for operating a computer to transform and present data gathered from respondents to electronic surveys and to evaluate preferences related to digital two dimensional and three dimensional images. The method includes receiving computational results for an electronic survey in the form of data files, which include one or more cluster scores for clusters identified in an image presented in the electronic survey. The computational results are transformed for presentation on a graphical user interface. The method provides a summary of the computational results for all images viewed in the survey and detailed survey results for selected images from the survey. The method further provides formatting options for presentation of the computational results, with the formatting options including mode selection, cluster selection, and data display adjustment. The final formatted computational results are presented on the graphical user interface for review by an operator.

09-18-2008

20090240567

INTERACTIVE MARKETING SYSTEM - The present invention is a system which enables a marketing team to initiate and sustain directed and interactive communication with thousands or millions of existing or prospective customers. In the preferred embodiment, a marketer accesses a database and selects a group of qualified prospects, using lifestyle dimensions and or demographic information, from a stable group of prospective or existing customers conducting financial transactions online. Once a prospect list is selected, the marketer designs a series of questions, typically using branch and skip logic, and the system deploys the question sequence to the target list in the form of a response-redeemable savings coupon. When prospects are next performing their financial transactions online, they are presented with a lifestyle-relevant coupon which is immediately redeemable by responding to the question/communication, therewith lowering the respondent's bill instantaneously upon response, as in the case of online bill payment. Reponses are made available to the marketer who can use this information to further segment and qualify respondents. The marketer can then initiate a new, more relevant line of inquiry, based on previous responses, with a more highly qualified subset of prospects. By repeating an ever more relevant communication process with an increasingly qualified prospect group, which ultimately may result in a welcomed invitation to purchase a product or service (e.g. in the form of a coupon redeemable with product or service purchase), both marketer and consumer engage in an interactive relationship. The present invention can use systems and methods for the payment of debts. A communications network can be used by debtors to acquire and transfer funds, securities or any other transferable instrument that increases in value with time to satisfy the debt.

09-24-2009

20090240571

SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ACQUIRING ACTUAL REAL-TIME SHOPPER BEHAVIOR DATA DURING A SHOPPER'S PRODUCT SELECTION - The invention provides systems of acquiring actual real-time shopper behavior data during product selection by a shopper in a store. More specifically, disclosed herein are systems of using a communications network, a First Moment of Truth device and a data collections device to track actual real-time shopper behavior data relating to the presumed locations of shoppers in a store, the time spent and location of time spent by a shopper while considering a product for selection and products chosen for purchase.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS TOOL FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORS - A practice management benchmarking tool may provide actionable feedback on practice and individual financial advisor performance that may identify how participants can improve their business. For example, the tool may provide a customized report that compares a practice's performance against other, relevant, local practices. The tool may also include an industry trend report that summarizes industry performance and compensation. An industry trend report may be relevant to larger corporate financial services companies with regional or national interests. The tool may provide a comparison analysis of a financial advisor practice according to three areas: 1) productivity and growth, 2) expenses, staffing, and profitability, and 3) individual financial planner productivity and pay.

11-13-2008

20090240558

ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS AIDE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CUSTOMIZED SALES SOLUTION - An enterprise analysis aide is provided comprising four layers. The first layer comprises indicia of strategic considerations relevant to developing a sales strategy for the market. The second layer comprises indicia of sales channels to be used when defining an integrated resource alignment for the plurality of sales channels. The third layer comprises indicia of categorized operating capabilities that may be used to define standardized operating capabilities for sales. The fourth layer comprises indicia of data management operations to be considered when defining supportive data processing operations in furtherance of the sales strategy, integrated resource alignment and standardized operating capabilities. Because the enterprise analysis aide provides comprehensive vertical and horizontal integration, a customized sales solution may be developed for an enterprise in a more efficient and timely manner and result in solutions that are more naturally suited to the enterprise for which they are designed.

09-24-2009

20090240559

Competitor Offering Analysis for Product Catalogs - An automated competitor offering analysis system including a competitor offer compiler configured to retrieve at least one competitor offering from a source of competitor offerings, identify any of the competitor offerings that correspond to any offering in a set of monitored offerings, and create a set of competitor offerings including any of the corresponding offerings, and a monitor engine configured to compare any of the offerings in the set of monitored offerings to any of the corresponding offerings in the set of competitor offerings, and calculate at least one score for the compared offering in the set of monitored offerings in accordance with at least one predefined scoring function, where the score indicates the competitiveness of the compared monitored offering with respect to the compared competitor offering.

09-24-2009

20090240561

Systems and Methods to Generate Leads to Connect People for Real Time Communications - Methods and apparatuses to connect people for services delivered via real time communications and to optionally generate leads to new customers for the services. One embodiment includes: providing a communication reference to an entity for distribution to customers; establishing connections for real time communications between the entity and the customers in response to requests made via the communication reference; charging the customers on behalf of the entity using a process to establish the connections for a service of the entity provided to the customers over the connections; presenting the service of the entity to customers on behalf of the entity; charging the entity a first fee according to what the entity charges a customer for the service; and charging the entity a second fee according to a bid price specified by the entity in response to a determination that the presenting of the service leads to the customer.

09-24-2009

20090112698

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BRAND AFFINITY CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND OPTIMIZATION - An endorsed advertising engine, system and method, which includes at least one vault having media assets, a recommendation engine that matches the media assets from the vault with at least one requested creative, and a delivery engine that integrates the requested creative with the matched media assets from the vault.

04-30-2009

20090083120

SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AN INTERACTIVE BUSINESS SERVICES PRICE DETERMINATION AND/OR COMPARISON MODEL - A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for determining a standard market pricing index for pricing user-defined business services and for comparing unique configurations of business services to the determined market pricing index and/or to other unique configurations of business services. Portions of the disclosed system, method, and/or computer program product describe a model and user interface for performing standard, objective, repeatable, and directly comparable benchmarking of business services. In general, the computerized model compiles a set of market price data and interprets specific configurations and characteristics from the market data set. The model performs a periodic analysis to determine which configurations and/or characteristics are the most common within the data set, yielding a common market configuration. The model further performs an iterative process in which all the data within the data set is normalized and adjusted to the common market configuration of similar business services. A user enters a user-defined services data set into the model, in the form of answers to questions through a user-interface, and upon running the model, receives a report indicating a likely market price for such services.

BEHAVIOR-BASED GENERATION OF SITE-TO-SITE REFERRALS - A content provider system interacts with a network of web sites to provide behavior-based content to users. Operators of the web sites add widgets to selected web pages of their sites. The widgets, when executed on the computing devices of users who view the selected web pages, report user-generated events to the content provider system. The content provider system analyses the reported events to detect behavioral associations between particular web sites, web pages, products, and/or other types of items. The widgets may also retrieve and display behavior-based content that is based on these item-to-item behavioral associations. For example, when a user views a particular web page, a widget on that page may request and display descriptions of, and links to, other sites or pages that are (a) behaviorally related to the page being viewed or an item represented thereon, and/or (b) behaviorally related to the past browsing activities of the particular user.

07-02-2009

20090171756

Modeling Responsible Consumer Balance Attrition Behavior - A request to generate a balance attriter risk score that characterizes a likelihood of a change in a level of creditworthiness of an individual following balance attrition is received. Thereafter, one or more creditworthiness indicators such as future credit balance increases (a proxy for the responsibility of the individual) are estimated for the individual using a predictive model trained using historical creditworthiness data of a plurality of balance attriters. These estimated future balance increases are then associated with a balance attriter risk score so that such score can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

07-02-2009

20090018893

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE SURVEY RECRUITMENT - A system and method are disclosed for presenting on-line survey invitations to users over a network. The system selectively presents survey invitations to users in accordance with a survey recruitment definition associated with a tag embedded within a Web page (node) downloaded and executed on a user computer. A particular survey is selected from a set of presently active surveys applied by a survey logic server to received requests based upon a category (node ID) provided by a user computer in accordance with the execution of logic contained in the survey recruitment definition.

01-15-2009

20090216620

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TARGETING ADVERTISEMENT SERVICE IN SOCIAL NETWORK - Provided is a system for providing a targeting advertisement service in a social network, the system including: a database to store information associated with a distribution of a content in the social network; an analysis unit to analyze the stored information with reference to the database, and to verify a behavioral pattern or a matter of concern of each of users in the social network based on the analysis result; and an advertisement unit to provide each of the users with a targeting advertisement, based on the verified behavioral pattern or the matter of concern.

08-27-2009

20090055246

Real-world profile data for making virtual world contacts - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities and transactions. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may be a possible recipient of a real-world consequence or benefit based on a virtual world occurrence. In some instances confirmation of an awarded real-world benefit may be provided via a communication interconnection. Real-world profile data may be used in connection with promotional activities in a virtual world environment.

02-26-2009

20090150220

Fuzzy Evaluation of Responses to Provide Degree of Satisfaction - The present invention provides a system and method for evaluating offers that are received in response to a request of a user. The system and method of the present invention use fuzzy logic to evaluate the offers. The evaluation provides a degree of satisfaction based on the information provided by the user.

06-11-2009

20090037253

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ONLINE LEAD GENERATION - A system and method for collecting and processing user data over a network relating to a given advertisement. The invention displays advertisements on a given web page to a user running a web browser application on a client. In response to a user action such as clicking on the advertisement or moving the mouse cursor over the advertisement, a form is displayed to the user for input of data. The user may then input data into the form, and receive a new advertisement in the same location as the old advertisement upon completing the form. At no point is the user redirected to a new web page, nor does a new web page “pop up” over or under the current web page. The user inputted data is checked for accuracy and completeness, and may either be sent to the advertiser immediately or stored for future transmission. This data collection, processing, and delivery is all handled by the real-time communication within the original web page context. Advertisements selected for display are targeted to the user based on a variety of factors.

02-05-2009

20090222330

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LIKE-MINDEDNESS - Methods and apparatus for a participant response system according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an information system and an assessment system. The information system may store selection information in response to a first participant's selection of data choices from a set of candidate survey data. The assessment system is responsive to the information system, identifies a correlation between the selection information of the first participant and a set of comparison data.

Method of Inducing Communication and Providing Coupons between Businesses and Consumers via a Business and Consumer Management and Resource System - A network based business and consumer resource system for businesses to open a dialog channel with customers and clients, and for potential customers and clients to open a dialog channel with businesses. A search engine is provided to allow potential customers to locate business profile pages, the search engine dependent upon the sum of points awarded to businesses on the network for performing various business related tasks. The search results may be provided in a format wherein brick and mortar businesses geographically local to the searcher are provided in one dataset while eCommerce search results are provided in another. Further, the present system through link swapping provides a means to increase the ranking of the business profile page on popular public search engines. Finally, a means is provided wherein business owners with large consumer lists can take part in targeted marketing to subsets of the list wherein the marketing occurs at a steady rate so the business minimizes large spikes in responses.

09-03-2009

20090222327

MARKETING AND DELIVERING FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES - Marketing and delivering financial coaching services involves sponsoring a website pertaining to financial coaching services, engaging an electronic communications media partner to direct potential customers to the website, and calculating a behavior-based quality rating reflecting the business opportunity value of the potential customer. The potential customer is advanced within the website to a supplemental landing page, a chat window, a bump offer screen, or a customer consultation page based on data from the potential customer. When the quality rating exceeds a predetermined threshold quality rating, the potential customer is associated to an assigned sales agent. In a telephone conference initiated by the assigned sales agent, an interest rating is determined for the potential customer reflecting the importance of the financial coaching services to the potential customer. When the interest rating exceeds a predetermined threshold interest rating, the potential customer is associated to an assigned enroller. In a telephone conference initiated by the assigned enroller a readiness rating is determined for the potential customer reflecting the willingness of the potential customer to purchase financial coaching services. When the readiness rating for the potential customer exceeds a predetermined readiness rating, the potential customer is enrolled as a buyer of financial coaching services and oriented by telephone. Using electronic communication media, the buyer is conducted through an ordered sequence of one-on-one financial coaching sessions and supplied with financial coaching resources. The buyer completes assignments between consecutive pairs of financial coaching sessions.

09-03-2009

20090222326

Multidiscipline site development and risk assessment process - A software application is provided designed to encourage collaboration between professional disciplines related to land development and construction projects. A graphical risk analysis system is provided based on answers to interdisciplinary questions related to risks. Use of the system promotes a complete checklist of interdisciplinary and informational consultation which, when completed, reduces the risk related to land development.

09-03-2009

20090222325

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE SMART TEXT - Methods and apparatus to generate smart text are disclosed. An example computer implemented method includes receiving at an input module a query input associated with at least one of a product of interest or a market of interest during a time-frame of interest and identifying at least one candidate external application based on the query input. The example method also includes retrieving volume information from the at least one candidate external application, the retrieved volume information associated with a current time-frame and the time-frame of interest, calculating a change associated with the retrieved volume information, and assigning a market change descriptor to the at least one of the product of interest or the market of interest related to a magnitude of the calculated change, the assigned market change descriptor output to a user via an output module.

09-03-2009

20090222324

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSUMER PRICE INDEX DETERMINATION USING PANEL-BASED AND POINT-OF-SALE MARKET RESEARCH DATA - Systems and methods for consumer price index determination using panel-based and point-of-sale market research data are disclosed. An example method to determine a consumer price index disclosed herein comprises obtaining panelist market research data determined by monitoring items purchased by a plurality of statistically-selected panelists, obtaining retail site market research data for items sold by a plurality of retail sites, combining the panelist market research data and the retail site market research data to determine weighted equivalent unit pricing information for each group of common items in an item stratum of the consumer price index having substantially similar attributes except for a unit amount, and determining the consumer price index using the weighted equivalent unit pricing information.

09-03-2009

20090222322

MONETIZING A SOCIAL NETWORK PLATFORM - A system and/or methodology that exploits user interaction within a social network in order to derive profits. The invention provides for increased flow of money through a social network, and simultaneously allows advertisers and merchants to focus their advertising spending within the social network. Additionally, the invention provides for quantitative measurement of the effects of relational proximity marketing /advertising (RPM), and creates incentives for users to purchase goods through the social network.

09-03-2009

20090222321

PREDICTION OF FUTURE POPULARITY OF QUERY TERMS - Disclosed is a system and method that allows a computer system the ability to predict what query terms in a search will be popular. The system creates a unified model that determines the future popularity of a query term over a period of time in the future. The unified model averages the results of three different prediction models to obtain a prediction of the future popularity of a query term. The prediction from the unified model is compared against a threshold value of popularity over a time period. When the predicted popularity of the query exceeds the threshold the term is stored. In some embodiments the period that the term exceeds the threshold may also be stored.

09-03-2009

20090222320

BUSINESS MODEL FOR SALES OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - A sales method provides for the demonstration, performance forecasting, financing, leasing, renting, power purchase agreement, tax-advantages, and group benefits of complete renewable energy systems. Even before a sales call is attempted, a system integrator has arranged a special group of lenders and investors that will fund any project initiated, has engaged credit services to check consumer credit files, has collected operational data from a number of its own systems, has created forecast models of performance, and arranged open-membership groups to which a new user can join immediately to share in collective bargaining with utilities, spread down-time risk and expense, utilize tax incentives, etc.

09-03-2009

20090222319

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING PIECEWISE PRICE AND INCENTIVE - System and method for determining piecewise pricing, in one aspect, generate a distribution function of transactions based on a plurality of data records associated with said transactions. One or more correlations between total cost and one or more performance measures are analyzed. Demand model is generated based on the distribution function. Piecewise pricing or level-price pairs are determined for a plurality of levels of performance measure, based on said one or more correlations between total cost and one or more performance measures, said demand model, and desired profit margin.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRONIC UPSELL DIRECTORY - Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating an electronic upsell directory A main networked store can communicate with a set of affiliate sites, each of which offers distinct products or services from individualized affiliate catalogs. The affiliate catalogs are each based on a core catalog available from the main store. When a user initiates a purchase transaction at an affiliate site, a transaction profile is transmitted to the main store. The main store examines the transaction profile to match purchased items against an upsell table containing the catalogs of not just the affiliate site conducting the transaction, but the entire set of affiliate sites. Products or services that form suitable options to the user's selected purchase can be aggregated across the affiliate sites and associated catalogs, and presented in an upsell dialog to the user. The user can thereby select upgrades or options from a broader array of sources.

09-03-2009

20090222316

METHOD TO TAG ADVERTISER CAMPAIGNS TO ENABLE SEGMENTATION OF UNDERLYING INVENTORY - A method and system for enabling segmentation of advertising inventory for an advertisement campaign includes capturing a plurality of requirements for an advertisement campaign. The campaign requirements include a descriptive tag that uniquely identifies the advertisement campaign. The requirements include a plurality of campaign attributes that define the requirements of the advertisement campaign including target audience and advertisement campaign objective. A tag inventory, with a plurality of descriptive tags and a plurality of advertisement bookings associated with one or more of the descriptive tags, is analyzed based on the captured advertisement campaign requirements. A recommended suggestion of bookings based on the analysis is presented. The recommended suggestion of bookings matches at least a portion of the campaign attributes. A media plan is finalized for the advertisement campaign based on a response received for the recommended suggestion of bookings, the response defines the relevancy of the recommended suggestion of bookings.

09-03-2009

20090222315

SELECTION OF TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS - System, methods, and computer-storage media are provided for selecting advertisements specifically targeted to a first end user. Information is provided by a second end user that describes characteristics and interests of the first end user. The information provided by the second user is used to select advertisements specifically targeted to the first end user. The selected advertisements are presented to the first end user through computer-enabled forms of communication between the first end user and the second end user.

System and Method For Eliciting Subjective Probabilities - A system and method for dynamically interacting with a human expert by means of a graphical user interface to elicit subjective probabilities that can subsequently be utilized in a probabilistic network. After the qualifications of an expert are obtained, the graphical user interface presents the expert with a series of questions. To assure that relatively accurate and consistent probabilities are subsequently provided by the expert, the graphical user interface incorporates numerous novel features that are designed to mitigate the effects of various biases that otherwise tend to skew the results acquired in traditional probability elicitation processes.

05-14-2009

20090089148

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PROMOTIONS - A technique is provided for delivering promotions to a consumer. The technique includes acquiring consumer identification and/or transaction data traversing via a PoS terminal over a communication channel, and generating one or more promotions to be offered to the consumer based on the acquired data. The technique further includes sending a promotional data containing the one or more generated promotions to the terminal over the communication channel.

04-02-2009

20090055249

Method and system for providing a structured virtual world for advertising and data mining as a part of a marketing and sales program for universal life stage decision support - A method for virtual world advertising and data mining as a part of a marketing and sales program for universal life stage decision support. User profiles created based on virtual world attributes are matched-up to service providers. Service provider-defined images or advertisements are then presented to the matched-up user using heuristics to select and modify the images or advertisements. Pricing for placement of the advertisement is determined in part by online auction and payments can be made to a user for specific user actions taken. Actual user actions taken after presentation of an image or advertisement are recorded and correlated over time, and are then used in measurements, reports and also in the heuristics for determining what advertisements have desired effects on the user.

02-26-2009

20090164309

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AND UNKNOWN USERS - Embodiments of the present invention include improved communication system and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a wireless communication method comprising, on a first wireless device, receiving one or more wireless device identifications associated with one or more other wireless devices, and transmitting at least one of the one or more wireless device identifications from the first wireless device to a remote computer system, and on the remote computer system, receiving the at least one wireless device identification, and accessing information associated with the at least one wireless device identification. Embodiments of the present invention may be used for electronic dating, social networking and other communication applications.

06-25-2009

20080313018

System and Method for Prime Lead Data Commercialization - A prime lead data commercialization system and method, in at least one embodiment, filters lead data to identify prime leads, provides the prime leads to a recipient, and determines compensation to the lead source based upon conversion rates. By shifting compensation risk to the lead source, the prime lead data source is able to obtain leads from any lead source without introducing arbitrary lead filtering criteria, such as filtering based on historically unacceptable conversion rates that would have otherwise omitted quality leads. The prime lead data source can establish filter criteria that restricts the lead data that the prime lead data source purchases. The prime lead data commercialization system can determine compensation based upon a premium pricing model. Accordingly, the risks of compensation based on conversion rates can be offset by justified premium pricing models for prime leads.

12-18-2008

20090048902

Method And System For Dynamically Serving Targeted Consumer Clicks Through An Application Programming Interface Over A Network - Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing consumer clicks (clicks) received from search engines from a listing, that includes at least one activatable link, associated with a target web site. The analysis is such that the analyzed clicks serve as the basis for targeting future clicks so that advertisers pay click aggregating bidders (click aggregators) for these fixture clicks at rates corresponding to the quality of the click. The click aggregators adjust the amounts they pay to the search engines that carry the listings corresponding to the requisite advertiser, based on amount they receive from the advertiser.

02-19-2009

20090112683

METHOD, SYSTEM AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FEEDBACK AMONG CUSTOMERS IN REAL-TIME - A method, system and program product for providing distribution of customer feedback pertaining to an aspect of a retail environment. The method includes creating either a text, an audio or visual tag for inputting into a tool, feedback from customers using a plurality of devices, the tag including either a product-related or a location-related tag that can be used to extrapolate on the feedback. The method further includes identifying respective locations of customers, collecting in real-time the feedback inputted by the customers and providing a user, a customer that has provided feedback or not, access to the feedback collected based on either an inquiry submitted to the tool by the user or based on a current location of the user identified by the tool. The method further includes retrieving in real-time a subset of the feedback collected based on either the inquiry submitted or the current location of the user.

04-30-2009

20090112694

Targeted-advertising based on a sensed physiological response by a person to a general advertisement - Provided embodiments include a device, apparatus, system, computer program product, and method. A provided method is implemented in an environment that includes a person viewing content displayed by an electronic device, and includes generating a marketing impact information indicative of a physiological response by a person to an electronically displayed general advertisement. The method also includes acquiring an indication of a characteristic of the electronically displayed general advertisement. The method further includes initiating a selection of a targeted-advertisement using an advertising rule responsive to at least the characteristic of the electronically displayed general advertisement and the marketing impact information.

04-30-2009

20090150225

DEVELOPING INTERACTIVE CALL CENTER AGENT PERSONAS - A method, software and system of developing personalities for interactive and/or automated call center applications are provided. According to teachings of the present invention, sample population questionnaires and interviews may be used to identify key personality traits. The impact of the identified key personality traits are then empirically determined. Based on the empirical determination of the key personality traits' impact on customer satisfaction, a plurality of personality profiles may be generated for evaluation. A plurality of application types and voice talents may then be employed to evaluate the impact of each personality profile on customer satisfaction, for different user populations and different types of automated systems. The personality traits for each automated system are preferably rated and reviewed to ensure a system accurately represents the identified key personality traits. The various voice talents may also be evaluated to identify those traits best at conveying a desired personality.

06-11-2009

20090144124

PROVIDING A USER DRIVEN, EVENT TRIGGERED ADVERTISEMENT - Systems and methods are provided for adding an advertisement to a web page by associating advertisements with one or more visual objects e.g., text and/or pictures. Embodiments of the present invention include a method for selecting visual objects and associating the visual object with an advertisement after the web page has been displayed to the user. The visual object may be selected in part based on the user's interactions with the web page. An additional embodiment of the present invention displays the associated advertisement after a user clicks on or hovers over the selected visual object.

06-04-2009

20080281675

Electronic Media Systems and Methods - Methods and systems of presenting media content targeted to at least one predetermined natural person are provided. Methods and systems for controlling the distribution of media content based on service provider profile data of a service provider are provided. Methods and systems for controlling the provision of media content for presentation to customers at locations of service providers are provided.

11-13-2008

20090112687

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEVELOPING AND MANAGING ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGNS - A system for developing and managing advertisement campaigns comprising an ad development module; a campaign development module; an inventory control module; a messaging module; a prospect event tracking module; and a central data store; wherein the campaign development module allows users to create new ad campaigns; wherein the ad development module enables users to create new advertisements; wherein the inventory control module allows a user to search for vehicles that meet certain criteria and to view data on selected vehicles; wherein the messaging module manages communications within a dealership, between the dealership and customers, and between the dealership and vendors; and wherein the prospect event tracking module links prospective buyers to interactions with the dealership. A method of using the above system to develop and manage advertisement campaigns.

04-30-2009

20080262902

SEARCH SYSTEM - A profile-based search system for identifying potential matches for a product with one or more buyers, the system including at least one processor configured to: access a product profile representing one or more attributes of a product; access one or more buyer profiles for different buyers, each representing one or more preferences for one of said buyers; generate, based on a comparison of said product profile and said buyer profiles, a selection of one or more of said buyer profiles with preferences that are similar to the attributes defined in said product profile; access, for each said buyer profile in said selection, contact data representing contact details of a representative of said buyer; and generate, based on said contact data, display data representing a user interface including the contact details of said representatives.

10-23-2008

20090106091

REFERENTIAL INTERFACE TO ENABLE COMMERCIAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ENTITIES - A system, method and program product is provided for establishment of a referential interface between business entities such as manufacturers and distributors in a computerized marketplace. The interface allows commercial interaction between two potentially geographically and technologically disparate systems. The interface is established through definition and then deployment of a distributor profile document, interrelated with a set of referential interface terms and conditions and a referential interface business policy. The profile document has associated terms and conditions representing business rules and processes referring to the business policies which then have business logic implementations. The contract prescribes the business rules that will be followed between a manufacturer and a distributor with the business policies providing mapping to units of business logic in the implementation of the distributor. Additionally the interface allows and may require setup and customization of business policy command implementation logic specific to the desired distributor. The established interface is further customizable and extensible allowing a variety of distributors to be connected to a marketplace as required with relative ease.

04-23-2009

20090106081

INTERNET ADVERTISING USING PRODUCT CONVERSION DATA - Methods and apparatus for determining the effectiveness of web pages are described. For each of a plurality of conversion points corresponding to a particular product or service, a plurality of paths leading to the conversion point are determined. Each of the plurality of paths leading to the conversion point includes a plurality of web pages connected by links. Each web page is characterized with respect to each of selected ones of the plurality of conversion points which may be reached from the web page via at least one of the paths. Characterizing each web page and/or its content includes determining a measure of effectiveness which represents a likelihood that viewing of the web page will lead to one or more of the selected conversion points.

04-23-2009

20090106087

CONTEXTUAL AUCTION BIDDING - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which contextual bids for an auction are provided for advertisement requests for presentation of an advertisement in an identified context. Each contextual bid is based on an effectiveness measure associated with a corresponding advertisement and the identified context. Each corresponding advertisement can be served in a plurality of contexts, and the corresponding advertisement has a corresponding plurality of effectiveness measures, each effectiveness measure determined from evaluation results received from evaluations conducted in the plurality of contexts.

04-23-2009

20090106085

Social networking interactive shopping system - The social networking interactive shopping system includes a portable wireless user interface for use by a store customer when shopping. A merchant server is provided, the server having market survey, advertising, promotions, security, social networking services, web server capability, a quantitative prediction modeling system predicting behavior of the customer, a predictive response marketing/advertising system that targets advertising messages to the customer based on a predicted customer response to the advertising messages, and payment application software. The merchant server is capable of wired or wireless communication with the portable wireless user interface. A database is provided, and can be stored on site or off site. The database includes information associated with items for sale at the store, and is in operable communication with the merchant server. Using the portable wireless user interface, the store customer can purchase user selected store items thereby obviating necessity for travel through a store check-out line.

04-23-2009

20090106082

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE TARGETED ADVERTISING - A method to facilitate targeted advertising can include receiving a plurality of schedule files that include scheduling information for at least one respective advertising media asset. Target attribute data is associated with each of the plurality of schedule files to identify at least one characteristic of an intended target audience of media content represented in each of the plurality of schedule files. Profile data associated with each of a plurality of uniquely identifiable network devices is received. The profile data characterizes known attributes of an audience serviced by each of the plurality of uniquely identifiable network devices. A plurality of playlist data files are generated based on analysis of the target data and the profile data. Each of the plurality of playlist data files includes scheduling information for at least one respective advertising media asset scheduled for playing out by at least one of the plurality of uniquely identifiable network devices.

METHOD OF PROVIDING ESTIMATED COST FOR KEYWORD ADVERTISEMENT - Disclosed is a method of running a keyword advertisement service. The method comprises receiving, from a potential advertiser, a proposed cost-per-click (proposed CPC) for a first keyword advertisement using a first keyword, providing historical data of a count of search queries submitted to the search engine and comprising the first keyword, and providing historical data of click-through-rates (CTRs) of keyword advertisement contents arranged in a first one of the plurality of groups of keyword advertisements. The method further comprises computing a first estimated cost for using the keyword advertisement service with regard to the first keyword advertisement for a future period of time, wherein computing uses the proposed CPC, historical data of a count of search queries and historical data of CTRs.

03-12-2009

20090070192

Advertising request and rules-based content provision engine, system and method - A clearinghouse apparatus, system and method for content, including an ad generator, an ad generator interface by which a user can interact with the ad generator, wherein, in an interaction with the ad generator using the ad generator interface, at least one content item other than content owned by the user is requested for inclusion in a creative, a content provision rules engine having a plurality of rules asserted by the owner of the content to govern the inclusion of the content in the creative, including at least one upsell rule, and a content provision interface by which the owner of the content can interact with the content rules engine to assert the plurality of rules. The invention may additionally include an approval engine, wherein ones of the plurality of rules necessitate that the creative be reviewed and approved by the owner prior to the inclusion of the content, and an approval engine interface by which the owner can interact with the approval engine.

03-12-2009

20090070190

UPDATING CONTENTS OF ASYNCHRONOUSLY REFRESHABLE WEBPAGES - Embodiments of the invention provide ways to update and permit third-party advertising content of a webpage developed using Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (“AJAX”) techniques. An illustrative method includes registering a set of possible triggering events that can invoke an advertisement-update process, registering advertisement containers (portions of the webpage that can present the advertisements), receiving an indication that a triggering event has occurred, identifying (in some cases) advertisement containers whose advertisement content is to be updated, accessing third-party advertisement data that is stored outside of the domain of the webpage to receive the fresh advertising content, and presenting the fresh advertising content in the one or more advertisement containers.

03-12-2009

20090070189

BUSINESS DOMAIN LEVEL SPECIFICATION OF A MARKETING CAMPAIGN - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to the customer experience marketing component of an e-commerce system and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for specifying marketing campaigns in an e-commerce system at a business domain level. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for specifying marketing campaigns in an e-commerce system at a business domain level can include specifying criteria for triggering a marketing campaign for a specific customer through a form based user interface, generating monitoring criteria for monitoring customer behavior for the specific customer from the specified criteria, monitoring customer behavior according to the monitoring criteria, and triggering a marketing campaign for the specific customer only when observing customer behavior consistent with the monitoring criteria when monitoring the customer behavior.

03-12-2009

20090037259

System and method for automated, reader-based filtration of literary works at internet-related submission site - A system, method, and business model by which literary works are posted for review on publicly accessible networks such as the internet where reader input is used to identify the works likely to succeed in the marketplace, Authors/writers submit works for electronic review. Reader demographics (where possible) and reader evaluations of works are recorded and used to rank submitted works. Top ranked works receive additional reviews until a “market significant” level is reached. All authors are provided feedback and ranking statistics on their works. Top ranked authors are allowed to market their works using the branding of the business or publicly accessible network (e.g., internet site branding). Publishers, agents, and other media representatives are provided access to top ranked authors/writers, their works, work-specific statistics and overall market statistics. This invention may be characterized as a reader-based, electronic, editorial marketplace for literary works, providing services across the publishing industry and other media industries.

02-05-2009

20090037257

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE - A system that utilizes peer influences to help advertisers to reach target audiences. This system used peer recommendations through Widgets and comments to influence consumer behavior. This is a system for placing advertising on Influencer websites or pages includes determining the audience of the Influencer and setting tags to characterize the audience. An advertiser chooses tags to characterize an advertising campaign or offer and the system determines which of the influences provide matches or partial matches to the advertising campaigns or offers. Influencers pick which campaigns they wish to offer to their audience and install a Widget on their website or page(s) that is used to display ads and process click-throughs. Influencers are rewarded with payments or reward incentives for placing the campaigns or offers and/or if the campaigns are successful. A web system is configured to provide the necessary functions to support the ad placement and rewards process.

02-05-2009

20090037250

System and method for automated processing of claims - A system and method are disclosed that provide for processing claims. The system and method include receiving a claim from a customer and determining if a customer average value associated with the customer is greater than or equal to a threshold value. The system and method also include processing the claim when the customer average value is less than the threshold value and determining if the claim meets one or more predetermined parameters when the customer average value is greater than or equal to the threshold value. In addition, the system and method include processing the claim when the claim meets the one or more predetermined parameters and forwarding the claim for further investigation when the claim fails to meet the one or more predetermined parameters and the customer average value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

02-05-2009

20090037254

Sponsored Content Responsive to Rules - The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus in which sponsors upload advertisements into a database and create rules and rule parameters regarding the use of the advertisements and specify arguments for certain of the rule parameters; publishers upload content, view available sponsors, select advertisements and the spacial-temporal locations in which to place the advertisements within the content; the uploaded content and advertisements are combined with a watermark and technology to solicit and receive viewer feedback, which may constitute arguments for certain of the rule parameters; the combined content-advertisement is made available to the audience via publication venues; the audience views the combined content-advertisement, optionally provides feedback, and rules are acted upon.

02-05-2009

20090177520

TECHNIQUES FOR CASUAL DEMAND FORECASTING - Techniques for casual demand forecasting are provided. Information is extracted from a database and is preprocessed to produce adjusted input regression variables. The adjusted input regression variables are fed to a regression service to produce regression coefficients. The regression coefficients are then post processed to produce uplifts and adjustments to the uplifts for the regression coefficients.

07-09-2009

20090063248

EDUCATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ONLINE REPUTATION - A method and a system for improving online reputation through education are provided. Example embodiments may include analyzing information related to a first entity associated with a transaction to derive present reputation data for the first entity and automatically taking action to educate the first entity in order to improve future reputation data. According to example embodiments, the system may include an analysis module, one or more database, an advice module, an action module and a user interface.

03-05-2009

20090055244

METHOD FOR CUSTOMER-CHOICE-BASED BUNDLING OF PRODUCT OPTIONS - A method and system for customer-choice-based bundling of product options collects data from previous orders about customer component choices, computes a pairwise distance between any pair of components that capture how much the probability of a choice pair P(a.b) deviates from the expected probability under the null hypothesis of independence P(a)*P(b), and clusters the components. The methodology can be implemented as instructions implemented in a computer readable medium. In this way, the need for a method to permit bundles of product options to be configured through the use of business processes reflecting choices based on the preferences of customers rather than the preferences of product designers is fulfilled.

02-26-2009

20090089146

METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING ADVERTISING AND INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES - The method of distribution advertisement information reports includes loading by the distributor of advertising in a cellular phone of the subscriber of the original program of the distributor of advertising for reception advertisement information reports the subscriber, sending to the subscriber advertisement information reports both the subsequent reception and their viewing by the subscriber on its cellular phone. As the original program of the distributor of advertising into a cellular phone of the subscriber load the program providing questioning of the subscriber, sending to the subscriber advertisement information reports according to media the plan of the advertiser and reception advertisement information reports at the moment of an entering or proceeding call or reception or sending SMS or MMS messages on a cellular phone. For viewing by the subscriber on its cellular phone the advertisement information reports to the subscriber are charged by money resources into its account.

04-02-2009

20090048901

Energy usage prediction and control system and method - A controller and/or a gateway acts as a feedback-based energy estimator for controlling initial and refined estimates of energy usage of one or more buildings controlled by the controller or gateway. An initial estimate of a building's energy needs for a specified time in the future (e.g., a month or a week ahead) are calculated, and then over time, in conjunction with an energy company, the initial estimate (and subsequent estimates) is revised based on the costs of the energy predicted or quoted by the energy company. The controller may examine jobs to be performed at the time as well as predictive information that may affect the building's energy needs (e.g., the predicted temperature for the time of the predicted energy needs). As expectations change (or as predicted factors such as temperature change), the energy company may be informed of the additional energy that will be needed (e.g., if the predicted temperature is increasing and cooling will be needed) or the excess energy that is expected (e.g., if the predicted temperature is decreasing and less cooling will be needed).

02-19-2009

20090216608

COLLABORATIVE REVIEW SYSTEM - A system for collaborative review is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store responses, an item, ratings, user response quality scores, weighted ratings, and total ratings. The interface may communicate with users and a content provider. The processor may receive the item from the content provider. The processor may receive the responses, based on the item, from the users. The processor may receive the ratings for each response from the users. The processor may calculate the user response quality score for each user and may determine the weighted rating of each response based on the user quality score of the user who provided the response. The processor may determine the total rating for each response based on the weighted ratings and may provide the responses, ordered based on the total ratings, to the content provider.

08-27-2009

20080255930

Individually Controlled and Protected Targeted Incentive Distribution System - A targeted information and incentive distribution system that protects consumer privacy and analyzes individuals', including individual households' or individual groups, purchase histories obtained from several retailers and other providers of goods and/or services to determine targeted information and/or incentives to deliver to individuals. Purchase history and other relevant data for each individual user are accumulated at a computer that is under the control of that user and analyzed to determine which targeted information items and/or incentives to deliver to that individual user. Purchase history data in the exemplary embodiment is only maintained at the user's computer so as to increase the privacy for the user of this extensive purchase history data that was derived from multiple sources. Abridged purchase history data that does not contain information to identify the individual to which it pertains is uploaded for comprehensive analysis to develop future purchase incentive programs.

10-16-2008

20080228561

Automated sales support method & device - A system and method for notifying salespersons of customer communications including a target item is provided. Individual customers are mapped to one or more salespersons. Target items of interest to a salesperson are defined and a salesperson is associated with a customer. For each salesperson, on-line communication channels are monitored for the occurrence of a communications involving a customer associated with the salesperson and including a target item defined by the salesperson. When such an occurrence happens, a notification is directed to the salesperson. Salesperson access to the system and customer access to the on-line communication channels requires authorization.

09-18-2008

20090192880

Method of Providing Leads From a Trustworthy - Methods of providing leads are presented. A lead database storing leads is made available, possibly via a lead mining service, where leads comprise closing values and attributes that have attributes values or attribute metadata describing the attributes. Lead purchasers can modify the closing values or attributes of the leads as they work the leads. An analytics engine can derive one or more value drivers for a lead purchaser based on a multi-varitate analysis of the closing values and attributes of the leads. Sources of leads can be assigned trust scores that indicate a measure of confidence that the source can provide leads according to the purchaser's value drivers.

07-30-2009

20090192879

Lead Rating Systems - Systems for rating leads are presented. A lead providing service preferably provides a tagging interface that allows users interested in leads to assign the leads one or more tags. The tags represent metrics by which one or more leads can be rated by other users. A rating interface is also provided to allow users to rate the leads with respect to the tags by setting a rating value according to a rating scale. Leads are presented to users along with the tags and tag ratings that calculated from the rating values submitted by users.

07-30-2009

20090192865

Group profiling with electronic offers - Group profiling with offers distributed through affinity groups is provided. Each affinity group has members who have pre-existing relationships with the affinity group. Savings offers from sponsors are distributed to affinity group members. A member of an affinity group accesses and receives one or more offers through a forum, such as a website, established by the same affinity group. Each distributed offer includes an identifier that is associated with a product and is associated with the affinity group of the member receiving the offer. Upon redemption of an offer at a store, redemption data is recorded and used for profiling the affinity group associated with the identifier of the redeemed offer. The group profiling enables sponsors to find the reach, relevance, and influence of the affinity groups and enables affinity groups to find the most valued offers for their members.

Behavioral Profiles in Sourcing and Recruiting as Part of a Hiring Process - A method of selecting potential hires for progression through a hiring process is provided. The method comprises selecting at least one performance indicator for a position, obtaining the at least one performance indicator for a plurality of incumbents in the position, and placing each incumbent in the plurality of incumbents along a performance continuum according to their performance indicator. The method also comprises surveying incumbents from at least both halves of the performance continuum, generating an ideal profile for the position based upon the incumbent survey and the at least one performance indicator of the incumbents, using a survey to generate a candidate profile of a potential hire, comparing the candidate profile of the potential hire with the ideal profile for the position to determine a result for the potential hire, and determining whether to progress the potential hire to a next stage in the hiring process based upon the result.

01-01-2009

20090240563

ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AND SUPPLIER INTERFACE SYSTEM - A method, apparatus and program product may measure the economic impact of a business venture on a targeted area. An organization's expenditure data may be automatically analyzed in conjunction with supplier survey data indicative of how the initial project budget investment is re-spent. Correspondence prompting payees to upload the survey data may be automatically generated and sent. A multiplier or other economic indicator useful in analyzing economic impact may be automatically generated using the original investment figure, as well as the expenditure and survey data. Program code may enable modeling of different scenarios to optimize money allocation.

09-24-2009

20090240556

ANTICIPATING MERCHANDISING TRENDS FROM UNIQUE COHORTS - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer-usable program product for identifying marketing trends in unique cohort groups. Information describing a plurality of unique cohort groups associated with a public environment is retrieved. Each member of a cohort group in the plurality of unique cohort groups shares at least one common attribute. Sets of attributes associated with the plurality of unique cohort groups are identified. The sets of attributes are analyzed by a cohort trend detection engine to identify attribute trends associated with the sets of attributes and a frequency of occurrence of the attribute trends in the plurality of unique cohort groups to form current attribute trends. In response to a query to an inference engine requesting inferences associated with the marketing trends, inferences describing future occurrences of the attributes in the plurality of cohort groups are received to form a set of future attribute trends. A set of marketing trends are generated using the current attribute trends and the set of future attribute trends. The set of marketing trends describes probable future marketing trends in the given environment.

09-24-2009

20090144133

CONTEXT RELATED ADVERTISEMENT/INFORMATION EXPOSURE METHOD AND RECOMMENDATION SERVICE SYSTEM USING THE SAME - Provided are a context related advertisement/information exposure method and a recommendation service system. The method includes the steps of: queuing information recommended (‘recommended information’) by a user on a queue list; selecting a candidate group (current list) to be exposed in an information region of contents page; determining an initial exposure number of each recommended information on the current list, and mapping each recommended information on the current list by the initial exposure number upon exposure of the contents to expose the same; comparing each recommended information that has been exposed by the exposure number with a reference value to determine whether its remaining on the current list is required; and determining a unit exposure number of recommended information that remains on the current list (residual recommended information), and mapping the residual recommended information by the unit exposure number upon exposure of the contents, to thereby expose the same.

Message transmission - A method is disclosed of permitting a supplier to transmit a message through an agent, to potential customers including the steps of creating a plurality of personal customer records which each includes customer identification information and customer preference information, storing the personal customer records in a database of personal customer records, and in response to an enquiry to the agent from a supplier relating to the customer preference information, the agent providing a message from the supplier to customers selected by the agent on the basis of the customer preference information.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND CLASSIFYING OPINIONS ON PRODUCTS - Methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating and providing review information for products are described. Product reviews for a product are collected from multiple websites over the Internet. The product reviews may be collected in any manner, such as by crawling the Internet to collect product review information for the product. Review information may be collected for multiple versions/releases of the product. Websites, RSS feeds, consumer reports, and other Internet sources may be parsed for product reviews for the product. Product reviews and product review ratings received from multiple websites may be weighted and normalized into common form. Product reviews may be weighted based on a reputation of the reviewers who submitted them. Product reviews may also be filtered based on time of submission. One or more summary ratings for the product are generated based on the collected product reviews. The summary ratings are displayed.

03-05-2009

20080228556

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSUMER INTERACTION BASED ON SPEND CAPACITY - Share of Wallet (“SoW”) is a modeling approach that utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a consumer's spending capability, tradeline history including balance transfers, and balance information. These outputs can be appended to data profiles of customers and prospects and can be utilized to support decisions involving prospecting, new applicant evaluation, and customer management across the lifecycle. In addition to credit card companies, SoW outputs may be useful to companies issuing, for example: private label cards, life insurance, on-line brokerages, mutual funds, car sales/leases, hospitals, and home equity lines of credit or loans. “Best customer” models can correlate SoW outputs with various customer groups. A SoW score focusing on a consumer's spending capacity can be used in the same manner as a credit bureau score.

09-18-2008

20080313020

Method for determining relative ranking data in a broker mediated geospatial information service environment - A method for determining a value indicator in a broker-mediated geospatial information service environment includes receiving feedback data at a first system of the broker-mediated geospatial information service environment. In particular, the feedback data is received from a plurality of respondents, and relates to a broker-mediated geospatial information service provided to each respondent of the plurality of respondents. Furthermore, each respondent of the plurality of respondents is a prior requestor of a process-dataset solution for performing the broker-mediated geospatial information service. Based on the feedback data, a value indicator relating to the process-dataset solution is determined.

12-18-2008

20080313015

PRICING PLAN OF RECORD - In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for producing a pricing plan of record. The present invention may provide for determining a pricing plan, the pricing plan specifying unit price guidelines for a plurality of items based on anticipated demand, the pricing plan being directed at substantially achieving at least one aspect of an entity plan on an aggregated basis and making available the pricing plan of record.

12-18-2008

20080281669

System and Method for Providing Electronic Price Feeds For Tradeable Objects - System and methods for a price feed generation are described. According to an example method described herein, upon receiving market information including a plurality of linear prices and order quantities, a reference price level is selected and a price feed message is generated to include the reference price level and the plurality of order quantities. The price feed message is then provided to client terminals.

11-13-2008

20090037252

USING PARTICIPATION TELEVISION TO FACILITATE ADVERTISING - In some implementations, techniques are described for customer lead generation and fulfillment through viewer participation in television, cellular or mobile telephone, and Internet-enabled computer or computing device platforms. Participation television may be leveraged to identify potential consumers and advertising leads may be selected for the potential consumers. An exchange of information related to an advertisement, offer, or gift may be facilitated between an advertiser and a participant in a participation television segment.

02-05-2009

20080255926

QUALITY FUNCTION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A method of supporting creation of a quality function development chart which converts customer requirements to product characteristics urges input of customer requirements, urges input of product characteristics associated with the customer requirements, urges input of a degree of association of the customer requirements and the product characteristics, and urges input of a design quality for each of the product characteristics.

10-16-2008

20080255928

TRUSTED NETWORKS OF UNIQUE IDENTIFIED NATURAL PERSONS - A secure trusted network of unique natural persons is formed by a configuration of natural person users, network gateways, and a network guardian. Users are allowed one registration per lifetime, and therefore have durable reputations on a secure trusted network. With all users having durable reputations, interactions on a secure trusted network are robust and reliable in comparison to less trusted and secure networks. Network gateways allow users to interact with other networks while protecting their data stream and provisioning identity information as may be required.

10-16-2008

20080255925

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING VALUE-BASED INFORMATION - Methods for generating value-based information are presented. Methods for displaying product information are also presented. In one approach, a feature to price distribution is approximated for each of a plurality of features of a plurality of products. Additionally, a product feature score is computed for each of at least a subset of the products. Furthermore, data corresponding to a visual representation of the at least a subset of the products in relation to each other is output based on the product feature scores and prices of each of the at least a subset of the products. In another approach, a value is assigned to each of a plurality of features of a plurality of products. Additionally, a product feature score is computed for each of at least a subset of the products. Furthermore, data corresponding to a visual representation of the at least a subset of the products in relation to each other is output based on the product feature scores and prices of each of the at least a subset of the products.

10-16-2008

20090037249

Forecasted Currency Exposure Management - Methods and apparatuses enable forecast currency risk management. A risk management system receives forecast or prospective transaction data denominated in a first currency. A value of forecast currency exposure is determined for the forecast data respective to a second currency. The system matches hedge data to the forecast currency exposure to determine a net prospective currency exposure, which may indicate under- or over-hedging. To compensate for the net prospective currency exposure, the system determines a hedge action. The net prospective currency exposure can then be revised based on the hedge action, and the hedge action and revised net prospective currency exposure can be reported.

Lead distribution and tracking with integrated corporate data usage and reporting capabilities - A system for distributing a plurality of leads for vehicles over a network from a plurality of disparate lead sources to a targeted lead destination, the system comprising: an import module configured for receiving the plurality of leads in an electronic format and for associating a unique identifier with each lead of the plurality of leads, each of the leads including customer contact information, customer location information, and vehicle information; a tracking module configured for creating a report record for each said lead for use in tracking a status of each said lead, the report record associated with the unique identifier of each said lead; a delivery module configured for assigning each said lead to a selected vehicle dealership based on the lead information, the vehicle dealership associated with a network address of the targeted lead destination and for communicating each said lead to the network address; and a collector module configured for receiving from the targeted lead destination respective feedback data associated with each said lead, the respective feedback data including the unique identifier of each said lead, and configured for storing the feedback data for each said lead in the report record associated with the unique identifier of each said lead.

12-04-2008

20080300965

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MODEL SET-TOP BOX DATA - Methods and apparatus to model set-top box data are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a first set of non-panelist behavior data and receiving a second set of panelist set-top box behavior data, the second set being associated with demographic data. The example method also includes identifying at least one behavior pattern common to the first and second sets of behavior data, and fusing data associated with the at least one behavior pattern from the first set with data associated with the at least one behavior pattern from the second set to impute at least one demographic characteristic from the second set to the first set and generate a quantity of household tuning minutes.

12-04-2008

20080300959

ENTERPRISE APPLICATION PROCUREMENT SYSTEM - An intermediate processing layer provides for the inclusion of procurement functionalities of a multi-level enterprise business application by bridging processing and other operational gaps in the enterprise application. The invention further includes the methodology for operating the procurement management system including numerous processing steps or operations, which may be guided in part based on software-based executable instructions or guidelines incorporated into or governing the executable operations. The procurement system includes four defined portals, a procurement portal, a sourcing portal, a reporting portal, and a supplier portal. The procurement system further includes additional levels of support, information or other layers of user interface. These portals and layers are disposed within existing processing components of the business enterprise suite and provide an interactive component to various users, specifically through the portals.

12-04-2008

20080313017

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO WEIGHT INCOMPLETE RESPONDENT DATA - Methods and apparatus to weight incomplete respondent data are disclosed. An example method includes assembling a set of complete data, assembling a set of incomplete data, and selecting a channel of interest. The example method also includes estimating activity within the selected channel, and calculating synthetic time indicies for the set of incomplete data.

Method of managing customer information - A multi-function customer satisfaction survey device, system, and method. A restaurant management system includes a plurality of electronic tip trays and a base unit. Each of the tip trays electronically obtains and stores customer contact information, customer payment information, and responses to a customer satisfaction survey. A data transceiver wirelessly transmits the information to the base unit. The base unit collects the information and sends the contact information to a correspondence server such as an e-mail server. The payment information is sent to an external authorization network and/or the restaurant's POS system. The survey responses are sent to an analysis unit. Particularly adverse or positive responses may be matched through the POS system to a food server and a food order.

09-24-2009

20090204478

Systems and Methods for Identifying and Measuring Trends in Consumer Content Demand Within Vertically Associated Websites and Related Content - Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for identifying and measuring trends in consumer content demand within a vertical network of websites and related content. In one embodiment, a method can include receiving, from a crawler, content from a plurality of webpages in at least one vertical. The method can include receiving, from a processor, data associated with a plurality of selected keywords associated with the at least one vertical, wherein one or more associations between at least a portion of the plurality of selected keywords can be generated. In addition, the method can include receiving, from a processor, session data associated with a plurality of consumers accessing content in webpages in the at least one vertical. Furthermore, the method can include determining third party data associated with the plurality of consumers accessing at least a portion of webpages comprising at least one of the selected keywords. Moreover, the method can include aggregating, based at least in part on the third party data, session data associated with visits to the webpages comprising at least one of the selected keywords.

08-13-2009

20090187465

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION IN WEB AD - A system for generating supplemental advertisement information. The system includes an advertisement engine and a user server. The advertisement engine is configured to select advertisements for a web page based on advertisement criteria. The user server is in communication with the advertisement engine to provide user identification information allowing the advertisement engine to access supplemental advertisement information based on the user identification.

07-23-2009

20090048906

Scalable system and method for financially modeling organizational performance - A capacity based system of business-related building blocks is described that allows managers to efficiently and effectively model their current environment, to describe their organizational resources, to provide a uniform view of their workload, to communicate their organizational performance and value, and to assess the financial impact of any project.

02-19-2009

20090182620

MODELING SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREDICT CONSUMER RESPONSE - Systems and methods for determining a consumer response. At least two attributes are obtained for a sample product, the at least two attributes are associated with a feeding experience of an animal are determined. A regression analysis is performed on one or more factor scores for the sample product derived from the at least two attributes. A consumer response of the feeding experience as a function of the at least two attributes is determined independently of the consumer. The at least two attributes are determined based on an assessment of a plurality of technical measures associated with the feeding experience of an animal. The technical measures may be selected from the group consisting of analytical components (AN), daily feeding patterns based on automatic feeding station (AFS), chemical sensory headspace aroma compounds (CHEM), human sensory descriptive panel (HUMAN), monadic feeding patterns (VIDEO), and preference assessment (PREF).